According to the labour leaders, these concessions have been carried out without the knowledge or involvement of union members, sparking concerns over transparency and due process in the aviation sector.
Labour leaders from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have accused Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation, of secretly conducting concessions that violate established labour union regulations.
FAAN is responsible for managing all commercial airports in Nigeria and providing services to both passenger and cargo airlines. FAAN's management team is led by Managing Director and CEO, Olubunmi Kuku.
According to the labour leaders, these concessions have been carried out without the knowledge or involvement of union members, sparking concerns over transparency and due process in the aviation sector.
The FAAN leaders also allege that Keyamo has been making unilateral decisions in the absence of a governing board for aviation parastatals.
This, they claim, has left critical decisions about the industry’s management unchecked, further exacerbating tensions within the sector.
However, the labour unions are demanding accountability and an end to what they describe as the minister’s "overreach" in the affairs of the aviation sector while calling for immediate intervention to address the issues affecting transparency and governance in the industry.
One of the labour leaders who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity source told SaharaReporters that Keyamo is now following in the footsteps of former Aviation Minister Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who "abused his office and single-handedly made decisions without the input of stakeholders".
The labour leader said, "If we have a board of directors, it will go a long way. You know, some of the permissions that need to be taken from the minister will not be necessary. Part of the reason why Sirika could abuse his office and take advantage of the lack of a board is what we are seeing again now."
He noted that the unilateral decisions made by the minister occur because he is the only one in charge, with no checks and balances.
"The board is there to address issues that do not need to go to the minister. Even when items must be forwarded to the minister, he will know that there is a board in place. So, we want a board. All stakeholders in the aviation industry must be given a board," the source said.
"Additionally, when we consider concessions, the major stakeholders are the workers represented by the union. Concessions cannot be conducted in secrecy.
"We have started to see the situation now because during Sirika is not transparent. He invited the union to stakeholder meetings even before the ICRC certificate of compliance was issued to the concessionaire.
"We are aware of when he would invite us to meetings with all the stakeholders. However, what we are witnessing now is a complete shift from what it used to be. There are no consultations, and neither the union nor any other stakeholders are aware of the ongoing concessions."
Sources said that in Enugu and some other airports, they are aware that there have been considerations from the ministry that have not been made open to them.
"This is very dangerous because, according to labour law, concessions cannot be granted without resolving all labour issues. That is the position of the law.
"We have requested a meeting to understand the level of commitment regarding the concession process. We do not want to be caught off guard; we want to be proactive. A concession should not be conducted in secret.
"How many people submitted bids? Who is involved, and how is the selection process being conducted? We want to know all the details, as our lives are at stake. Additionally, we need to understand what requirements the federal government must fulfil to carry out the concession properly," one of the sources said.
A source from the aviation industry, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told SaharaReporters that Keyamo needs to be transparent and should stop pretending to the public.
The source said, "That's a joint venture, and it's absolutely fraudulent. They call it a fraudulent game; they are defrauding the system. They want to hide behind it, pretending that you will partner together. It's a big lie. If you want to engage in such activities, you need to be transparent and open. You can't operate under secrecy.
"The board is essential because of all this interference. All official procurements should be conducted through the normal channels, ensuring direct supervision as recommended by the law. The law mandates that supervision falls under the Managing Director (MD)."
"So, why are you not following the legal recommendations for supervision under the MD? Why are you taking it outside the appropriate channels? It seems you want to manipulate the situation and exert influence because you are the Minister," the source said.
Efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to the messages sent to him.