Why we oppose FG airport concession plan —ATSSSAN

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), has reassured its members that it would not relent on its contrary position towards the concession policy of government and has mapped out plans to challenge government on the matter.

Speaking during the delegate conference of the Murtala Mohammed Airport branch of the union, ATSSSAN branch Chairman, FAAN, Comrade Ahmed Danjuma while addressing the delegates argued that the policy was not the best answer even as he insisted that the unions in the industry were in unison to say no to the planned concession of the four major airports in the country.

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He urged his members not to relax on their stand against this government policy, adding that though the noise about the policy seemed to have reduced, government was also re-strategizing after the initial knocks received against the policy to achieve their goal.

“For the fact that the noise of concession has suddenly reduced aside from the last two weeks that the Vice President made a statement about the concession and another statement was made again about the concession, we should ensure that this government does not carry out the exercise. The only way we can prove to them that we can do it is by sitting up and doing our job the best we can, so that we will not give room for anybody to come and challenge us that we have not done well”.

Comrade Danjuma who explained how the union had engaged many stakeholders on the matter hinted of several researches that have been made and position papers developed to defend their stand against the concession policy.

“We have tried to develop our position paper as to why we say concession is not the best answer and we are not done with it yet, we are still collating and it is the responsibility of all of us not only the union leaders alone to drive that process. We need inputs from us, we need your support, we need your advises so that we will have a very good comprehensive document whatever they call us to talk, we will now rely on those documents you give us and present to them”.

“Am challenging all of us here to please go out, sought out for information, ideas on how best we can challenge the issue of concession. We have our own roadmap, we have plan B, C and even plan D but we will not roll them out until we are sure the government is serious on this matter.

The ATSSSAN Chairman FAAN branch used the occasion to announce that the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission had approved the FAAN reviewed condition of service and sent to the Ministry for necessary action.