The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have issued a 72- hour ultimatum to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to halt the concessioning of toll gates and parks to private operators at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday, Felix Ohwoefe, chairman of NUATE, said the two unions had agreed to take drastic actions if the authorities of the airport refuses to rescind its decision on the concessioning of the major revenue points to private companies.
The chairman, said the two unions were not aware of the concessioning plans, adding that due process was not followed.
Ohwoefe said any attempt by the FAAN anagement to ignore the ultimatum would result in barricading all entrance and access points into the airport.
On the challenges associated with the concession, Ohwoefe said the action might result in a massive sack of airport workers.
The chairman also suspected foul play in the concessioning plan, wondering why FAAN should contract the automated points to private individuals for only N14 millions, when it was generating over N28 million monthly.
“We are not against the concession of the automated points, but due process must be followed. If government is concessioning the place, we are asking what will happen to our workers in the existing units.
“Secondly, if the concessionaires are taking over, they must pay higher than what the FAAN is generating presently.
“We are generating over N28 millions monthly, but we heard that the private company is required to pay only N14 million monthly, which is far below five percents of what we are generating presently, even when the tariff is increased, which means there is a foul play.
Read also:
- FAAN bans cash transactions at Nigerian airports from February 28
- FAAN, MTN Nigeria launch free Airport WiFi at Lagos, Abuja International Airports
- FAAN explains detention of man for filming at MMIA, Lagos
“The process is fraud either on the part of individuals in the government, or government itself.
“The unions are saying no to the concession until we come to the terms of understanding ourselves. We are afraid of losing workers, we don’t want to lose any worker if due process is not followed in this hard economy. We are even demanding employment of more workers in FAAN,” Ohwoefe said.
The chairman also used the opportunity to call on the minister of aviation, and the president to intervene.
When contacted on this issue, the Head of Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Ngozi V. Onyeanwuna-Nwosu, said the management had not given her the approval to speak.
