The Nigerian Labour Congress says the body is in full support of Aviation workers protesting against the plan by the Nigerian government to lease the four major airports in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
In Lagos, the workers shut FAAN’s offices from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m and marched on the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and the international terminal of the airport from Freedom Square located in front of FAAN office.
.Leaders of the four unions, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), gathered the protesting workers to address them on why the unions decided to oppose the concession of the airports.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in a solidarity statement signed by the National President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, said that “the unwholesome and unpatriotic attitude of giving away our prized national property to private sector operatives is not only unjust and immoral but also in ultra-violation of Chapter 2, Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In Abuja, the aviation workers embarked on a peaceful demonstration at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Speaking during the protest, the Chairman of the NUATE, Mr. Ahmed Yusuf, said: “We are protesting because while we were in a lockdown, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, surprisingly received the outline business case (OBC) certificate for the concession of the four most viable airports out of the 22 airports in Nigeria. This came as a surprise and an insincere act. It lacked transparency and the staff members were not carried along.”
He added that the unions had suggested Greenfield concession where the concessionaire will acquire a virgin land, build, operate and transfer the airports, stating that this will create more jobs during and after construction and drive competition.
On his part, the Abuja chapter Chairman of ATTSSAN, Mr. Samuel Wuyep, said: “The unions have never agreed that the concession should happen. We oppose it and we will continue to oppose it.
