The Federal Government on Thursday assured workers in the troubled aviation sector that the planned concession of major airports in the country would not lead to job loss.
The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, who made this pledge during a meeting National Stakeholders in the sector in Abuja, explained that the concession of the airports was requiredto improve the sector’s performance and its contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth
The Ministry of Aviation reflected the stance of the Minister on the planned concession of the airports in a tweet thus: “Hon. Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has assured that thete will be no job loss in the concession of Airports.
“Speaking during the National Stakeholders forum at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja today, 23rd March 2023, Sirika said the aviation industry is key to the development of the nation.
“Speaking on the Aviation industry roadmap of 2016, he said a lot of items within the roadmap have been achieved such as the signing of the Aviation Act, Nigeria Airspace Management Act and so on”, it added.
Apparently not comfortable with the planned concession of the airports, four of the aviation workers’ unions last week engaged Barr Femi Falana to challenge the proposed concession of the four airports, alleging that the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are not pursuing the concession arrangement in a transparent manner.
The unions, comprising the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP-FAAN Branch) pointed out that the proposed exercise cannot be justified since the terminals required no additional investments during the period of the concession.
While accusing the Minister of not prioritizing retired workers’ gratuity and pension payments, the unions also claimed that the FAAN’s management had usurped the statutory mandate of the agency’s board by not inaugurating it over the past eight years as against the provisions of its enabling Act.
