TUC kicks against govt’s move to concession four major airports

The Federal Government’s plan to concession four major airports in Nigeria has been decried by the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The four airports the government is said to be planning to concession are the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA); Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA); Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

In a statement on Thursday signed by the TUC president, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and its secretary-general, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the union kicked against the move, saying that for government to have claimed that the concession was a ‘foregone conclusion’ was the highest level of impunity the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration preached against.

It lamented that all aspects of “our national lives” had been virtually breached and that the “social contract this government entered into when we voted for it has been grossly violated.”

The statement read, “The question is, why these four major airports? Why not invest in other airports scattered across the country? Why do they want to stifle and incapacitate Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) – a parastatal created by an Act of Parliament?

“From experience, past concessions of our common patrimonies have always been bedevilled with tales of woes.

“The Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) owned and operated by the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited is eloquent testimony. The controversy surrounding the deal as per the number of years to operate and amount of money owed FAAN are still lingering issues.

“If the Minister and the forces behind him are sincere and genuinely desire a business model that would reposition the aviation industry, they should adopt the Green Field and Corporatisation models which empower new investors to among others construct new runways, terminal buildings and thereafter operate for a specified period of time before handing over to the government.

“Under corporatisation model, the government gives the running of the business to a statutory board/agency to autonomously carry out operations of the airport on a purely commercial basis same way the Airports Company of South Africa operates.”

The statement went further to note that “the Ethiopian Airports Authority, Egyptian Airports Authority, etc. are all doing great.”

The statement added, “Nigeria is more endowed in all ramifications than these countries but it is obvious they have better economic managers. How can we claim to be Giant of Africa and yet cannot manage little things? What we have are powerful individuals while our institutions suffer.”

The union said it was vehemently opposed to any move to concession/privatise our Airports.

READ ALSO: Buhari pledges world-class infrastructure for Lagos, Kano, Abuja airports

“Nigerians have toiled day and night to contribute their own quota to the growth of the Aviation industry, nay the country at large.

“We urge the government to kick-start this project with the underutilised airports as a pilot scheme. If successful, then it can be replicated in other airports.”

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