FAAN pensioners urge Senate to stop airports concession
*Nigerian Senate
(Nigeria) The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Chapter, has urged the Senate to urgently stop the
planned concession of the four major airports in the country.
Mr Emeka Njoku, Secretary-General, NUP, FAAN, made the call
while speaking at the monthly general meeting of the union at the premises of
the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.
The Federal Government had recently appointed Transaction
Advisers for the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt
airports.
Njoku, however, faulted the move, stressing that the unions
in the sector would continue to resist any plan to concession the viable
airports by the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
He said: “The Senate recently stopped the concession of Port
Harcourt Refinery because the process was not transparent. We hereby solicit further intervention from
the National Assembly on the planned concession of our four viable airports.
“If this government is known for zero tolerance on any act
of impunity, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, we cannot understand the
refusal of the minister on the recently passed National Assembly Public Hearing
resolution suspending the planned concession of the four viable airports.’’
According to him, past concession agreements were not
beneficial to both government and its agencies.
Njoku noted that revenue collection points of FAAN such as
the toll gate, car parks, bill boards, fuel surcharges, shops and VIP lounges
were all put under concession and have all become sad stories today.
He said the union would not allow FAAN to go the way of the
defunct Nigeria Airways which was liquidated by an executive fiat.
“We want the minister to tell the public what he wants to
concession. What happens to FAAN workers, pensioners, its assets and
liabilities?
“Is there a government blueprint on the proposal and what
are contained therein? These and many
more are begging for answers and should not be swept under the carpets,’’ Njoku
said.
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