Aviation Unions Reject Secret Airport Concession Plans, Demand Transparency
…Vow to resist any backdoor agreement
Aviation unions in Nigeria have strongly condemned the circulation of what they describe as “draft agreement documents” for the concession of some airports without their 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 held at FAAN Freedom Square today.
In a show of defiance, all Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) offices and gates were locked during the congress, preventing any workers from entering.
The Human Resource Director, who attempted to access the premises, was denied entry by the aggrieved union members.
Addressing the workers, NUATE President, Comrade Ben Nnabue, expressed shock over the government’s alleged move to concession airports without consulting key stakeholders.
According to him, the unions had previously been assured by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), that no concessions were in the pipeline.
However, they were taken aback to discover official documents detailing concession plans emanating from the ministry.
“We have lost confidence in the management of agencies attending meetings with the minister. 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,” Nnabue stated.
He further revealed that the controversial documents outlined a Full Business Case for 50 years, while the concession agreement itself spanned an astonishing 80 years.
“Are they buying the land or concessioning it? I have never seen a concession agreement of 80 years,” he queried, adding that standard management concessions typically last for only five years.
Nnabue also criticised the absence of discussions with aviation unions, despite earlier promises by Keyamo to address labour concerns.
“They didn’t discuss with us, yet they are writing legal issues affecting our members into these documents,” he lamented.
The President of ANAP, Comrade Adedayo Alale, reinforced the unions’ position, recalling that Keyamo had promised that all labour issues would be resolved before any airport concessions took place.
However, Alale disclosed that the concession process for Enugu Airport was already nearing completion, with similar plans in place for Port Harcourt and Kano airports.
In his remarks, the 3rd National President of ATSSSAN, Comrade John Ogbe, stressed that aviation workers were not against concession but opposed any process that lacked transparency, inclusivity, and fairness.
“No union or worker is afraid of concession, but we reject any backdoor approach that excludes critical stakeholders. Aviation workers must be carried along,” he asserted.
Ogbe noted that, in previous concession attempts, unions were granted the opportunity to review the Outline Business Case.
However, the current approach appears to involve “unsolicited Outline Business Cases” without worker input.
“The government wants to adopt a Full Business Case without consulting the workers. We urge them to dialogue with us before proceeding,” he added.
At the end of the congress, the unions resolved that:
The consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage must be implemented by next month.
All issues concerning Conditions of Service must be addressed within the next two months, with necessary approvals granted.
The airport concession process must be transparent and inclusive, ensuring that all key stakeholders are involved.
With tensions rising, the unions have made it clear that they will resist any attempt to impose concessions without due process, warning that industrial action may be imminent if their concerns are ignored.
