Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom on Monday in Uyo placed embargo on employment by the Ibom International Airport Development Company Limited (IADCL).
Akpabio announced the
embargo during a town hall meeting with members of staff of the IADCL in Uyo on
Monday.
He said the aim of
establishing the airport had not been achieved since most of the facilities
were still under construction.
According to him,
“The airport is meant to render repair and maintenance operations within the
region.
“Due to the stress
being experienced by the teeming population of Akwa Ibom by going to Calabar to
board planes, we have to commence passengers airlifting from the Uyo airport.
“We are yet to decide
other services that will be operational as we are currently on expansion to
accommodate international services.
“We are constructing
a fuel dump and other facilities that are inherent in a world class airport.
“Most of the staff
members are redundant because we are still constructing the facilities they are
supposed to work with; so we cannot continue to employ until we are through.
“In the interim, we have
to rationalise some of the staff to other agencies within the state civil
service until we achieve the full aim of the airport.”
He approved N120
million for the payment of salary arrears owed the airport staff and recalled
one who was wrongfully dismissed.
Akpabio also said the
staff would be incorporated into the state civil service.
He explained this was
a step toward addressing the poor welfare and enhance their opportunities in
case the airport was taking over by the Federal Government.
The governor promised
to set up a committee to look into the issues of rationalisation of the staff,
promotion and increment of salaries in accordance with the state civil service
rules.
Chairman of ATSSSAN,
Brendan Edidiong, appealed for the upward review of IADCL staff salaries to
become 10 percent higher than that of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
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