Aviation workers protest against return of Maevis

[MrVan]

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

LAGOS – Aviation workers under the auspices of Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN; National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, with its affiliate in Trade Union Congress, TUC, yesterday, staged a protest against the planned return of the sacked concessionaire of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Maevis Limited, as the collector of FAAN's revenue at airports.

The unions embarked on the protest following rumours that Maevis Limited might be allowed to return to collect revenue at the nation's flagship, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and some other airports Maevis previously occupied in the country.

Vanguard gathered from the protesting workers at Freedom Square, Lagos, venue of the rally, that the workers in their hundreds, locked up the headquarters of FAAN, which prevented staffers, who had earlier turned up for the day's duty from gaining entrance into their offices.

It was also learnt that the workers  had resumed at FAAN's headquarters gate as early as 6a.m. and barricaded the entrance to the offices till noon, when it was reopened.

President of  ATSSSAN, Mr Benjamin Okewu, who spoke on  the planned return of Maevis, said the unions and workers in the aviation industry would not hesitate to ground the industry if Maevis was allowed back to the airports.

Vanguard Nigeria