The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has allayed fears that the proposed airports concession would trigger job losses.
He said contrary to fears by aviation unions, only 14% of aviation workers would be deployed to the concessionaires.
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The minister’s assurance came a week after the House of Representatives ordered the suspension of the proposed airports concession.
The airports slated for concession are the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State.
Specifically, Sirika disclosed that only 1,158 workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) representing 14.29 per cent of the total workforce of 8,100 would be transferred to the would-be concessionaires.
In his presentation to the National Assembly which was obtained by our correspondent, the minister told lawmakers that FAAN staff redeployed to the concessionaires would have the option of returning to FAAN after a period of 18 to 24 months.
According to him, staff not required by a concessionaire would also be allowed to return to FAAN.
He added that the benefits of transferred staff would also be paid by FAAN on completion of the 18 to 24 months if the staff decided to stay with a concessionaire.
The minister stated that more workers would be engaged with the completion of new terminal buildings in Lagos and Kano.
He said more people would also be engaged as the Federal Government plans to take over some state airports.
The airports to be taken over include Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe, Osubi and Dutse.
Sirika said the concession of the four airports would improve the state of infrastructure at the airports, in addition to boosting passenger traffic.
He disclosed further that the concessionaires would sign service level agreements with FAAN and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to ensure that airport operates efficiently, while the service level agreement would cover the runway, taxiway, security and air traffic management.
