Union leaders in Nigeria’s aviation sector say they are open to dialogue as tensions begin to ease on the proposed concession of the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.
They insist any move to concession airports must prioritize and fully protect workers’ rights.
President General, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP, Comrade Adedayo Alale, has dismissed claims that the controversial concession of the Enugu Airport has been fully settled.
Speaking after recent engagements with the Aviation Minister, he clarified that what some described as a “handshake” was in fact a hard-fought negotiation focused strictly on staff welfare, not a compromise.
Comrade Alale explained that the unions rejected the initial process for excluding workers, describing it as an attempt to make critical decisions in their absence.
Following consultations with staff in Enugu, the unions presented a unified position to the minister, who acknowledged their concerns and formalized key protections in a written agreement now held by both parties.
Central to that agreement is the guarantee that all affected workers will remain employees of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN with their pensions, gratuities, promotions and other entitlements fully secured.
While this has brought a measure of calm, the ANAP President General says the concession is effectively on hold until implementation begins and compliance with the agreement is tested.
The union leader also raised concerns over transparency in the concession process, questioning the emergence of a single bidder and the lack of public advertisement.
He warned that labour will resist any arrangement that undermines due process or short changes workers, stressing that unions remain vigilant and ready to act if the terms agreed with government are not honoured.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen