Despite Court Ruling, Fears Over Disruption Of Airport Operations Tomorrow

[TGD]

 THE Federal High Court judgment restraining the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from terminating its contract with Maevis Nigeria Ltd notwithstanding, FAAN workers may have perfected plans to organise a rally to celebrate the exit of the airport concessionaire tomorrow.

The Guardian reliably gathered that there is now palpable fear that the planned rally could disrupt operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The meeting, tagged "farewell congress," it was gathered, was meant to celebrate the exit of Maevis, which was given a two-month termination notice by FAAN.

Although a Federal High Court has nullified the termination notice, there are strong indications that workers will be going ahead with the planned rally.

FAAN had in a letter dated 24th March 2011 served a two-month termination notice to Maevis.  On receipt of the termination notice, the company headed to the court for relief, claiming that the purported termination letter was a clear disregard for the High Court ruling.  Last Thursday, an Ikoyi Federal High court stopped the FAAN from terminating the concession agreement between it and Maevis.

Referring to its ruling of September 24, 2010 that both parties should maintain the status quo and another judgment on December 17, 2010 directing both parties to arbitration, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, insisted that FAAN had no right to terminate the contract.

Employees of Maevis yesterday hinged the issue on pecuniary matters, saying that the automation of the processes at the airport has drastically reduced the level of human error that would have given impetus to corruption and loss of revenue for government. They alleged that vested interests within FAAN as masterminding the protests and sustained campaign for Maevis' exit.

Maevis' Head of General Services, Wale Soneye, said the company had automated the system for the welfare of travelers and airline operators.

A circular purportedly issued Wednesday by the leaders of three Unions at the airport — the ATSSSAN, the NAUTE, and the NUP FAAN — urged FAAN workers to "gather at the Freedom Square, FAAN Maintenance Yard, at the FAAN headquarters on Monday by 9 am."

It also identified the agenda as update on Maevis Nigeria Ltd and condition of service, among others.  "You must be there," the circular demanded.



Source: Despite Court Ruling, Fears Over Disruption  Of Airport Operations Tomorrow