RECENTLY, two unions in the country’s aviation sector, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, alleged what they called the plan by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to stage manage the plan to concession the four international airports in the country.
In a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari dated July 7, 2017 and made available to aviation journalists, the unions declared that all efforts made to make the minister review some questionable concession agreements in favour of FAAN and not the concessionaires alone was not considered by him.
While calling on President Buhari to call the Minister to order, the unions called for discontinuation of the proposed concession plan and cancellation and review of all previous concession agreements.
These and other issues raised by the unions are some of the major challenges bedeviling the sector which require urgent intervention from the Federal Government.
The alarm raised by the unions is not out of place in view of some unpalatable experiences on some projects carried out within the sector which are controversial.
The opposition against the planned concession of the four airports from onset could be traced to the lack of faith in the sincerity of the project, due to lack of transparency in past similar projects.
The sale of the defunct Nigeria Airways is an example of shady deals the government executed in the sector which has greatly contributed negatively to the woes in the sector.
Over 10 years after the airline was unjustly liquidated, airline business has remained at the lowest ebb while the over 4,000 workers of the defunct airline are yet to be finally settled.
Even outside the aviation sector, there are many other projects carried out by the Federal Government which were of no benefits to the majority of Nigerians.
The regular problems often attached to such projects would have been avoided if the government representatives had been more transparent and patriotic in their dealings. Unfortunately, those who are supposed to represent Nigerians often betray them by seeking their own selfish gains.
It was therefore not a surprise that ANAP and NUP (FAAN) like many other key players are kicking against the concession of the airports as good as the plan is supposed to be.
While it is believed that the only way for the airports to meet international standards is for them to be privatised or commercialised as it is the norm in other climes, it is, however, unfortunate here that the sincerity of purpose is absent due to the body language of the government representatives.
Ordinarily, when there is need to concession four international airports which are the major source of revenue generation to the government in the country’s aviation sector, it requires a lot of transparency such as: the logistics, the fate of workers, level playing fields for the would be buyers or whatever, identities of the bidders and many more.
All these are presently missing in this case where the government, through the ministry of aviation, is keeping the major information on the planned concession to itself. It is therefore not out of place for anyone to become suspicious that this plan may also end up being to the advantage of the cronies of government.
It is expected that when you want to concession or commercialise, there will be labour issues that need to be resolved first before anything, but failure to do this, is like putting the cart before the horse.
It is therefore pertinent for the government through the Minister of State for Aviation to carry, not only the two unions, but also other key players along if government is really sincere with the concession plan.
The airports are national legacy and therefore belong to all Nigerians hence; should not be given out until everyone is convinced about the sincerity behind the plan.