Workers Sue FG Over Airports Concessioning, N150bn Pay Arrears

Nigerian aviation workers have sued the federal government at the National Industrial Court in Lagos over the planned concession of airports in Nigeria and the non-payment their arrears of pensions totaling N150 billion. Junior, senior and professional staff of airports brought the suit under the aegis of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUB-FAAN Branch). The suit, which was filed by their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), has the Minister of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as defendants. The aviation workers are seeking an injunction of the court that the major airports in Nigeria, including the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Kano State; Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, cannot be concessioned by the federal government without the consent of the Federation of Nigeria.