President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, has said the labour will resist plans by the Federal Government to concession four airports newly remodelled from the $1billion loan it received from China.
The labour union leader threatened the showdown against the Federal Government when he received members of four Media Chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in his office on Thursday in Abuja.
Wabba disclosed that he has it on good authorities that the Federal Government has concluded plans to concession 4 Nigeria’s airports remodelled with the Chinese from China.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, which accounts for over 60% of international flights in Nigeria is believed to be on the list of airports to be concessioned.
Others are Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which are up for the planned concession to private managers.
The NLC considered the move to be suspicious, wondering the rationale behind the idea of trading off the airports it borrowed loans to put back in shape with 25 years warranty on the airport facilities
He said under the planned concession 60% is ceded to the concessioner; leaving the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, with the remaining 40℅ out of which it is expected to service the loan from China and pay workers’ salaries.
The NLC boss lamented that a similar arrangement was used to trade off the MM2 Airport in Ikeja which has now resulted in bitter litigation and perpetual injunction ceding the asset to the concessioner.