The Planned Concession Of Major Airports And Mounting Opposition By Labour

By MSIGEKII NWI-AERA NACY

The Federal government recently, formally commenced the process to concession four major international airports and related services in the country. The airports are that of Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt. However, the planned concession has elicited mix reactions with the most brazen opposition and discontent coming from the major aviation unions. Those that are battle ready for what they termed ‘’Mass Movement for the Survival of FAAN’’ are Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).

The seriousness with which the government is going about the concession now remain to be seen if the desire political will could be muster to push the process through amidst the mounting opposition from labour. It all started some months ago when the then Director General of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, Engr. Chidi Izuwah, issued a clearance certificate of compliance to the Ministry of Aviation, signaling the green light for the commencement of the process for the concession of the four airports.

Consequently, the government through the issuance of Requests for Prequalification for the Concession of the four major International Airport Terminals and related services, which no doubt, is in line with best global practices, commenced in earnest, the search for concessionaires to manage the four airports. The process is already kicked started and the Union should rather, embrace the process and be part of it with a view to protect the interests of her members and therefore, prevent any outcome that will be injurious to the comrades in FAAN, because, no doubt, the Union owing to the absence of a unify front, may not be able to mobilize for a mass action against the planned concession, except, if the NLC take-over. The Joint-Aviation unions should simply allow the prevailing industrial peace and harmony in the sector, considering the fact that the aviation industry is yet to fully recover from the impacts of the global ban on air travel in the year 2020 occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19. Besides, all the hullabaloo by the unions is nothing but living in denial and the time we live in is no lover of indolent and people with lack of focus and vision.

Concession, Privatization, Sales or Divestment of government stakes or interest in an agency or industry is not new in our society, nor in the Aviation sub-sector. However, the planned concession of the four major airports as was conceived and being pursued vigorously by the government get opposed even before the process was birthed. More worrisome is that the discontent from the labour movement amidst the sharp divide between public and private sector workers over the process is increasingly widening every day.

The public sector dominated Joint-Aviation Unions having taking a firm position against the policy, are making it incumbent on all union leaders to mobilize for a showdown. Meanwhile, the mounting opposition being championed by the Joint – Aviation sector unions is rather subjective and pretentious. The pretext upon which the opposition to the planned concession is hinged are job losses and threats to National Security. On the issue of National Security, the argument is neither here nor there and totally unfounded. It is particularly perplexing and baffling to see the same low level staff whom the management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) either underpaid or misclassified over the years, are those in the fore front of opposing the planned change of the status quo.

The Joint–Aviation sector unions is yet to convince their colleagues from the private sector in the industry on the rationale for the mounting opposition and discontent, rather, they are cajoling everyone in the name of labour movement solidarity to join force with their comrades in FAAN to opposed the concession. Unfortunately, the use of solidarity as a mean to solicit for support from the private sector members of the union in the industry may simply not be enough to evoke enough sympathy from them in favour of FAAN comrades in their travails. The behavioural conducts of FAAN personnel over the years in relation with other stakeholders in the industry will certainly be a factor in determining the level of support FAAN comrades will eventually get,, because, according to the private sector workers, FAAN personnel, especially the Aviation security (AVSEC) staff have over the years unfairly treated them and having suffered the disproportionate burden of FAAN mistreatment of other stakeholders, within the same working environment, would not be in a haste to support the Joint–Aviation sector unions in any rescue mission aim at saving FAAN from the planned concession. Evident abound that all these years, FAAN personnel acts with impunity and made our airports working environment toxic for other stakeholders, actions which to this day they are neither remorseful nor apologetic of. Furthermore, there is the need for people to be weary of the dummy the union is selling in an attempt to scurry favour and sympathy of other union members among the private sector workers, not especially when the vexed and unresolved issue of Access Toll Payment by private sector workers at Abuja airport is still lingering while the public sector workers are exempted. In as much as getting the support of private sector workers are not feasible, the Joint-Aviation sector union could rely on the public sector workers and the teeming FAAN staff across the nation’s airports, including those moribund airports that are only existing in name. .

If we must situate the issue at stake more appropriately, the concession of FAAN stakes at the four airports does not in any way amount to outright sale of the nation’s airports. The airport as an entity is an institution with different businesses operating independently of FAAN. The stakes of FAAN are well known. As such, if the concession is all about the stakes of FAAN at our airports, then, why the hue and cry. Perhaps the planned concession is occasioned by lack of probity and accountability, including poor management of the airports. An airport terminal is a critical infrastructure and FAAN clearly is not adding any value to our airports and obviously lack the needed capacity to manage these airports to be more productive, hence, the many unviable airports across the country.

Across the world, airports are professionally run by seasoned managers and administrators which makes its operations efficient, effective and brings prosperity to the people and wealth to the nation. However, FAAN seem not to be operating in that league. The slow pace of our aviation development could be attributed to FAAN poor approach to airport management. Business owners no longer find the airports environment attractive owing to imposition of exorbitant and non-negotiable charges on businesses. Before our very eyes, we have seen and still witnessing the decaying of infrastructures and unkempt terminals that would have been revamped with just maintenance but allowed to wastes away by FAAN. Surprisingly, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority regulatory powers does not extend to FAAN spheres of influences in our airports.

It is pertinent to note too and most importantly to point out that, almost all of the major infrastructural projects at our major airports (completed and ongoing), are an intervention projects of either the Ministry of Aviation or the Presidency. Asides the purchase of AGO to power the airports by FAAN, one could hardly point to even a Hand Held or Walk Through Metal detector, baggage scanner or Generating set at our airports that were provided by FAAN.

For the fact that Union exists to protect the interests of its members, does not take away the fact, that the union too sometimes should not be circumspect of its action and support what are deem most appropriate. All of the fears and concerns of the Joint-Aviation sector unions relating to labour and economic issue are germane and should be address but the Union should not stay miles away but start engaging the government so as not to be cut napping. Again, the government on its part must be cautious in its approach to the concession. Deliberate steps must be taken to allayed the fear of the unions through constructive engagement and sensitization. The government should equally not be unmindful of the liabilities and legal issues which are not strange when exercise of this nature is being undertaking.

The energies with which the Joint-Aviation Unions is expending against concession would be worthwhile if it is channel towards addressing casualization, contract staffing and other misclassification of workers by employers in the industry. These ought to be of utmost concern to the unions, because, presently, it is becoming quite clear that the organized labour is increasingly losing relevance even among its members. As such, taking steps at doing things that will endeared the unions to the people will no doubt, redeem it.

As a nation, we should properly align our interests and stand by what we want. This planned concession should be a choice before us and for the prosperity of the nation. The process should not be shelved on account of an induced fear of job losses by a handful of workers as being hyped by the Joint – Aviation sector unions. The option should be which one is greater, the overall public interest or to pay off a handful of workers. The great strides made by government through conscious efforts and targeted investment over the years with a view to transforming our airports must be supported through a sustainable assurances of guarantee maintenance which FAAN as always could not offer and we must not allow this opportunity to lost on us on account of panic-induced fear of job losses. In fact, the government should not only stop at the concession because what is desirable now is a sweeping reforms of the Nigeria aviation industry with a view to repositioning it for the emerging global competitiveness.

The non-compliance and abuse of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) by foreign airlines should be further x-ray and appropriate sanction meted out to defaulting airlines where necessary. Also, checkmating the excesses of the international airlines operating into the country and the mistreatment of the Nigerian travelers could only be done through the establishment of a National carrier and the strengthening of the regulatory authority, NCAA.

Meanwhile, it is not all concession or government privatization exercise that have failed to achieve its set goals. In spite of the few hitches here and there, and for the fact that the outcome of the sale of Nigeria Airways remains a sad memory till date. The success story of some of the services providers in our airports so far further give credence to the planned concession. Equally, recall that the first concession in the industry was the MMA2 terminal in Lagos airport involving Bi-courtney on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis. The terminal was the first ever privately built and operated terminal in our airports and the terminal was a delight of the travelling public for a long time irrespective of the antics and many surreptitious moves by FAAN aimed at frustrating the concessionaire which is exactly what the mounting opposition and discontent over the latest planned concession intends to achieve. Asides Bi-courtney, other concessionaire currently doing business with FAAN are Avitech and I-Cube . .

In fact, there is the urgent need for government to carry-out this concession to its logical conclusion in the interest of the flying public and the generality of Nigerians. Perhaps, when it is done, our airports will join the league of airports across the world that are operating as a business. To concession the airports terminals and other related services will be the optimal benefit and prosperity to the Nigeria economy while the failure to do it will amount to the greatest disservice to the people. Leaders must be bold to take decision that will surely outlive them and define the path that a nation will navigate to its economic prosperity and as a people, we are at a cross road to take that decision now.

MSIGEKII NWI-AERA NACY

Write from Abuja

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