Members of two unions in the aviation sector on Wednesday protested against the plan by the Federal Government to concession four international airports in the country.
The unions are the National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.
The members, numbering over one 100, barricaded the entrance to the offices and headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at Muritala Muhammad Airports, Lagos.
Addressing newsmen, the President of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, said the protest was informed by the recent plan by the government to concession the four airports.
Okewu said concession of Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja and Kano airports could lead to loss of jobs in the industry.
He advised the government not to leave the operations of the airports in the hands of concessionaires in view of the security challenges facing the country.
Okewu called on FAAN management to ensure proper placement of its staff.
He said: “Other issues the Federal Government should address is update of the condition of service in all aviation agencies and delay in the payment of salaries by FAAN.”
On his part, the Secretary-General of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, said instead of concessioning the four viable airports, the government should upgrade the non-viable ones.
Abioye said those advocating privatization of the four viable international airports do not mean well for the country.
“The planned concession is detriment of the development of other airports and by extension, the development of Nigeria,” he said.
