Lagos — Aviation workers yesterday showed their displeasure with the Federal Government's planned concession of major airports in the country by blocking vehicular traffic at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Internat-ional Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The four airports marked down for concession are the MMIA, Lagos; Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) Port Harcourt; Aminu Kano International Airport (AKIA), Kano; and Margaret Ekpo Airport, Calabar.

The angry workers brought traffic to a standstill for many hours, alleging the government had no altruistic reason for privatising the airports.

The protesters comprised the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).

Some of the statements explaining their position on the issue read: "Aviation workers say no to concession", "Where is our N19.5 billion intervention fund?", and "All airports buyers beware, aviation workers are angry."

They also accused the Federal Government of having fraudulent intentions. "Bi-Courtney concession is a fraud, Nigerians take note", "Our government owes it a duty to provide safe and secure aviation practice in our country and we are against private sector terrorism in our airports. Our airports are self reliant."

The General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Gideon Ogbuji, who spoke to journalists, condemned the move and wondered why others such as the Akure, Ibadan and Maiduguri airports were not considered for concession.

He argued that workers in the industry should be carried along. Ogbuji claimed that the government's latest move lacked a human face and therefore should be condemned.

Ogbuji called on the government to follow international standards as provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on concession or privatisation of airports. According to the NUATE scribe, unions do not want a repeat of events following the liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways. Many workers, he said, were not paid their entitlement for years.

All labour issues should be adequately addressed by government before the concession, said Ogbuji. He added that the unions were ready to make a presentation to the concession committee.

His words: "What happened to Ibadan and other unviable airports we have in this country? Must you concession airports that are making money and leave the unenviable ones? Whatever the government must do must be in line with ICAO standards and approval."

He continued, "The committee was set up last week and we are going to submit our position to them and before we agree with the committee, they will give us an assurance that everybody's job must be protected and again, how do you hope to pay the workers?"