Aviation Unions in the country have called on President Bola Tinubu to cancel the ongoing concession process of airports across the country.

Speaking at the freedom square, headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Ikeja, during the Unions congress, the union leaders described the exercise as a deceit because it didn’t carry workers along.

Addressing workers, the President of National Association of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Ben Nnabue, called for restart of the whole process and allow for bids by interested organisations in a transparent manner.

“They should start afresh, so that the whole Nigerians that want to participate in the ownership of the airport will participate.

“And all the airports have to come together, weigh them, know their value,” he said.

Nnabue said the unions are not aware of the process being used for the concession process.

He called for the resolution of all labour issues before delving into concession, adding that labour demands are not being attended to while the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Mr. Festus Keyamo, has already announced that he has gotten approval from FEC to concession the Enugu airport.

“So we just want the world to know that before any concession can take effect, that the labour issues must be discussed and handled,” he said.

He noted that the process is flawed from the appointment of the concessionaire, noting that they were not aware of how and when the bid was advertised.

“The airport belongs to Nigerians. It’s a federal government structure or institution. So you cannot, at midnight, decide on whom to give the airport to without declaring it open to all Nigerians.

“So we are demanding that they cancel the concession process, advertise for the concession globally”

According to Nnabue, this will ensure that all interested parties bid for the concession.

Also addressing the workers, the President General of Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Alale Adedayo, condemned the way and manner the whole process of concession, was being executed by the minister without carrying them along despite his earlier promise to involve them in the process

Comrade Adedayo called for reversal of the concession process to make it transparent. (Blueprint)