Aviation Workers Protest Concessioning

As the controversy of the handing over of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos to Bi-Courtney remain unabated, Aviation workers at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, have vowed to continue to fight the non transparency in the award of concessionaire of part of the airport to Bi-courtney

The workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NAATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) who protested last week Wednesday at the airport, warned the federal government against selling the airport to the detriment of the security of the nation.

The protest which was staged at the administrative block of FAAN witnessed large turnout of workers who carried placards protesting the move to concession  the airport to a private firm.

Addressing workers of the two unions, Mr Philip Amitto, the National Secretary of ATSSAN urged the workers to sustain the fight and protest against what he called illegal concessioning of the airport.

“The ATSSAN national secretary told the workers that the planned strike was suspended for now pending the discussion between the unions and the presidency.

Mr Amitto also advised the workers to remain resolute in their fight against the alleged sale of the airports.  He warned against allowing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) go down the drain like the Nigerian Airways.

The ATSSAN national secretary said the handing over of the GAT to Bi-Courtney at odd hours after protest by workers was also suspicious, adding that there is no going back. The workers and the union will continue to fight for the right thing” He said.