Aviation unions and the company managing Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu have agreed to protect the jobs and working conditions of airport staff, especially workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The agreement was reached during a meeting called by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
The unions present at the meeting were the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
Both the unions and the airport concessionaire, Aero Alliance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement clearly states that workers will keep their jobs and current employment status, and no staff member will be treated unfairly because of the concession.
According to the minister, the meeting allowed everyone to openly discuss workers’ welfare, job security, and how to make the airport successful in the long term. He praised the union leaders for being calm, patriotic, and willing to resolve issues through dialogue.
Keyamo also said the federal government is committed to improving aviation infrastructure without harming workers. He explained that development and workers’ welfare can go together and promised that all reforms would be fair and people-focused.
Earlier, the unions had opposed the airport concession, which began in January, saying the process was not transparent and that their representatives were ignored. However, the minister maintained that the process was open and assured that no worker would lose their job because of the concession.