The Federal Government has been told to stop forthwith the planned concession of four airports in the country.
One of the leading unions in the Nigerian aviation industry, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, has warned that if the government didn’t stop the plan, it would call out the workers on industrial action against the government.
SEE: FG Commences Concession Process Of Major Airports
A communique signed by the General Secretary, NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara state, recently, said that the unions kicked against the move because the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, did not follow the extant rules, due process, social dialogue with stakeholders and other extant agencies connected with civil aviation in and out of Nigeria on the plan.
NUATE hinted that the four airports slated for concession; Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja are the only viable airports out of 22 owned and controlled by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
The union called for immediate stoppage of the concession plan to avoid an industrial crisis that may arise, emphasising that government had failed to carry along stakeholders on the important matter.
SEE ALSO: 6,000 Jobs Under Threat Over Planned Concession Of Four Major Airports
Rather, the communique wanted the government to implement the recommendation of a verification exercise, which recommended proper staff placement in the agency.
The union also called for the suspension of employment of Grade Level 10 officers and above in FAAN, declaring that such had been a drainpipe on the agency.
The communique added, ”Following the verification exercise carried out by government at FAAN and other aviation agencies, to determine proper structural balance in recruitment and placement of (certain political) appointees into positions in these agencies, the NEC in session hereby demands full implementation of the committee’s report already approved by the minister, to ensure proper staff placement, avoid current career disconnect, mistrust and correct the administrative incongruities caused by the irregular employment of these political jobbers.”
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