“In the Full Business Case, the concession period is 50 years, but in the agreement, it is stated as 80 years. Are they buying the land or concessioning it? I have never seen an agreement of 80 years before.”
BY ANTHONY OMOH
Aviation unions in Nigeria have condemned draft agreement documents on airport concessions, citing a lack of stakeholder input. The unions, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), voiced their concerns during a congress at FAAN Freedom Square.
During the congress, all FAAN offices and gates were locked, preventing worker access. The Human Resource Director, who attempted to open the gate, was denied entry by the aggrieved unions.
Addressing the workers, NUATE President, Comrade Ben Nnabue, stated, “We were shocked to learn that the government was proceeding with airport concessions without our knowledge. The minister had assured us that no concessions were planned, yet we are now seeing documents from the ministry saying otherwise.”
Nnabue expressed distrust in agency management representatives attending meetings with the minister, warning, “Posterity will not forgive them if they go to represent FAAN and sell FAAN out without calling stakeholders. There is no information that is hidden forever.”
He highlighted discrepancies in the documents on airport concessions, noting, “In the Full Business Case, the concession period is 50 years, but in the agreement, it is stated as 80 years. Are they buying the land or concessioning it? I have never seen an agreement of 80 years before.”
He also recalled a promise from Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stating, “Keyamo told us that labor issues would be discussed with the unions, yet in the documents being circulated, they have written legal issues without consulting us. They didn’t discuss with us, and they are writing issues affecting our members.”
ANAP President, Comrade Adedayo Alale, affirmed that the minister had promised to resolve labor issues before concessions, adding, “The process of concessioning Enugu airport is almost complete, and similar plans are in place for Port Harcourt and Kano airports.”
ATSSSAN 3rd National President, Comrade John Ogbe, clarified, “No union or worker is afraid of airport concessions, but we are against concession through the back door—non-transparent and non-inclusive. Aviation workers are critical stakeholders and must be carried along.”
Ogbe criticized the government for bypassing workers in adopting a Full Business Case, urging, “The government must engage in dialogue with workers before proceeding with any form of airport concessions. In the past, we had the opportunity to study the Outline Business Case, but now, we are witnessing unsolicited Outline Business Cases.”
At the congress’s conclusion, unions resolved that the new minimum wage consequential adjustment must be implemented next month. They also demanded resolution of all Conditions of Service issues within two months, with necessary approvals granted. Additionally, they insisted that the airport concession process be transparent.
