FEC approves concession of Abuja and Kano airports

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Article abstract

Abuja Airport can be concessioned for 20 years, whereas Kano Airport can be concessioned for 30 years.
The Nationwide Union of Air Transport Staff (NUATE) and three others instituted a authorized go well with towards the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the deliberate concession of a few of the airports within the nation.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had earlier assured that there can be no job losses within the concession of airports.

The Nigeria Federal Govt Council (FEC) authorized the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, Abuja, and the Mallam Aminu Kano Worldwide Airport, Kano.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, after the FEC assembly presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday on the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Nigeria’s authorities is at present in a authorized battle with aviation unions over the airport concessions, with the FG promising not too long ago that the concessions won’t result in job losses.

Concession

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, talking on the finish of the council assembly, mentioned the FEC authorized the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, Abuja, and the Mallam Aminu Kano Worldwide Airport, Kano, the assertion added:

“The Abuja Airport can be concessioned for 20 years, whereas that of Kano can be concessioned for 30 years.”

Sirika additionally acknowledged that the council additionally authorized the ministry’s change of identify from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace of Nigeria.

Different aviation-related tasks additionally authorized by the FEC embody the draft Nationwide Civil Aviation Coverage, which the Minister acknowledged was geared in direction of the strengthening of civil aviation.

What you must know

Recall that Nairametrics reported earlier this 12 months that the Nationwide Union of Air Transport Staff (NUATE) revealed why the union and three others instituted a authorized go well with towards the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on the deliberate concession of a few of the airports within the nation.

Talking with Nairametrics in Lagos, the Common Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba, mentioned that the federal government negated all of the agreements reached after the tour of some airports outdoors the nation with the unions.

NUATE and three different unions – Air Transport Providers Senior Workers Affiliation of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Affiliation of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP-FAAN Department) – sued Aviation Ministry (1st defendant) and FAAN (2nd defendant), claiming that your complete course of was wanting transparency.

In line with Ocheme, the unions had agreed with the federal government earlier than the excursions of the airports that after the excursions, all events concerned within the course of, together with the unions, would appraise the scenario, however regretted that the federal government did not name the unions to a gathering to debate this regardless of the sequence of letters to it on the difficulty.

He alleged that regardless of the refusal of the federal government to contain the unions, the ministry had continued to go forward with the method and in addition introduced most popular bidders about 5 months in the past with the data of essential stakeholders on the difficulty. He mentioned:

“Our settlement earlier than the excursions was that after the excursions, all people would sit right down to appraise the tour, however sadly, the ministry didn’t assent to our request up till now. The ministry has refused to convey the assembly; subsequently, this train has misplaced the advantages of the excursions we launched into at the moment.
“We misplaced confidence within the authorities when the ministry continued to interact the would-be concessionaires with out our data as much as the extent that they’ve introduced the popular bidders. The federal government had promised to contain us after they have been assembly with the popular bidders, however up till now, they haven’t accomplished so.
“It’s as much as the federal government to be legislation abiding and to remain by way of to the rules of the rule of legislation. Whether or not they would do this or not, I’m not able to say, however we anticipate that as a product of democracy, the federal government will function by way of the rule of legislation.”

No job losses

In a later assertion by the Ministry of Aviation, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, urged that there can be no job losses because the sector is essential to Nigeria’s economic system, the assertion learn:

“Hon. Minister of Aviation HadiSirika has assured that there can be no job loss within the concession of airports.
“Talking through the Nationwide Stakeholders Discussion board on the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja at this time, March 23, 2023, Sirika mentioned the aviation business is vital to the event of any nation.
“Talking on the aviation business roadmap of 2016, he mentioned plenty of objects inside the roadmap have been achieved, such because the signing of the Aviation Act, the Nigeria Airspace Administration Act, and so forth.”