Airport concession: FG seeks aviation workers’ support

The Federal Government Wednesday appealed to labour unions in the aviation sector to support the implementation of the aviation development masterplan, which encompasses airport concession, the national carrier, among others.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, stated that the government requires the support of the workers as the government moves to the critical stage of the roadmap implementation.

Daily Trust reports that the Federal Government had this week advertised for the concession of four major airports in the country.

These include the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State.

But the unions have consistently kicked against the policy, which they fear might trigger massive job losses.

Sirika, in his remark during the two-day strategic workshop on industrial harmony by the Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum, charged leaders of the unions to support the roadmap to achieve the intended purposes of repositioning the sector.

The minister’s remark was read by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr James Odaudu, at the retreat held in Owerri, Imo State.

Sirika said, “It is hoped that this strategic retreat, as the name implies, will refocus leaders of our various unions towards redefining their strategies from incessant disputes and actions that can create instability in the sector. We need you, as strategic partners, as much as you need us, as managers of the sector, to deliver on our joint responsibility of repositioning the sector for the benefit of all stakeholders.

“This appeal has become imperative, given the fact that having entered the critical stage of the implementation of our aviation sector development roadmap, we need all hands to be on deck to ensure its success. Only an environment of industrial harmony can guarantee that.”

The minister assured that the federal government would “continue to support the involvement of union leaders and workers in our policy and decision-making processes.”