Aviation unions and the concessionaire for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) guaranteeing job security and preservation of staff status for workers affected by the concession deal.
The agreement was reached after a meeting was convened on Tuesday by Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, with key industry unions 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).
On January 22, Keyamo signed a concession agreement for the airport, a move that workers opposed, citing concerns over the process adopted.
The airport staff, on February 6, staged a protest at the facility, voicing their disapproval of the federal government’s concession plan.
‘NO WORKER WILL BE UNJUSTLY DISPLACED’
According to a statement on Wednesday by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister, the meeting addressed concerns on workers’ welfare, job security, and the long-term sustainability of the Enugu airport under the proposed concession arrangement.
The statement said the “frank and constructive” discussions resulted in a mutually beneficial agreement that protects aviation workers while advancing the federal government’s infrastructure development objectives.
“As a major outcome of the meeting, the unions and the concessionaire formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guaranteeing job security and the preservation of staff status for all employees affected by the concession process,” the statement reads.
“The agreement ensures that no worker will be unjustly displaced and that existing conditions of service will be respected in line with agreed terms.”
Speaking at the meeting, Keyamo was said to have commended the leadership of the unions for their maturity and patriotism, reiterating the federal government’s commitment to reforms that modernise aviation infrastructure without compromising workers’ welfare and dignity.
“This administration believes strongly in dialogue, fairness, and inclusivity. Infrastructure development and workers’ welfare are not mutually exclusive,” the minister was quoted as saying.
“We will continue to ensure that every reform process is guided by compassion, equity, and national interest.”
The statement said the resolution marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the aviation sector, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement in building a competitive and sustainable industry.
