Arusha, Nigeria (eTN) – Nigerian aviation workers under the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) have raised their objection against the Nigerian government’s plan to concession the four international airports in the country.
De Nigeriaanse regering heeft via minister van Transport (Luchtvaart) Felix Hyatt onlangs het plan van de regering aangekondigd om concessies te doen aan de luchthavens van het land, waaronder Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos; Internationale luchthaven Nnamdi Azikiwe, Abuja; Port Harcourt International Airport en Aminu International Airport, Kano.
The minister recently announced the government’s plan to give the running of the four international airports to private individuals. The minister said the intention is aimed at improving the facilities at the airports for the comfort of air passengers.
The workers on their part decried the planned concession with the fear that it will lead to job loss. During their protest march around Murtala Mohammed Airport, ATSSAN president Benjamin Okewu said what they agreed at the stakeholders meeting with President Umaru Yar’Adua that the “Federal Ministry of Aviation should put on hold the planned privatizations or concessioning or whatever agreement they have reached with anybody.”
Volgens de heer Okewu heeft de president zelfs opgedragen dat de man die de luchthaven van Abuja heeft gekocht, zijn geld moet terugkrijgen, zodat ze de minister kunnen horen zeggen dat de regering de privatisering heeft overboord gegooid om concessies te doen.
The assistant secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Abdul Kareem Motajo, on his part said the intention of the workers was to embark on a protest to condemn the move to privatize the four airports. According to him, the government’s plan to privatize the airport without adequately preparing for the interest of workers will be resisted.
