Following the recent relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos, the Federal Government, FG, on Friday revealed it would be making an annual return of about one billion naira.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, made this disclosure while fielding questions from pressmen at the sidelines of the grand finale of the 10th edition of the Aviation Workers’ Week and Award Nite (AWWAN) in Abuja.

The Edition of the Aviation Workers’ Week and Award Nite (AWWAN) was organised by the Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council, an amalgam of four existing unions in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, with the theme “Workers As Strategic Partners in Achieving the Aviation Road Map.”

The Minister revealed that in 2023, FAAN employees spent nearly N1 billion on basic travel allowances and commuting between Lagos and Abuja.

However, according to him, with the relocation of decision-makers to a single location, this expense will now be eliminated, resulting in significant savings.

His words: “I had to do the figures that I told the management of FAAN to give to us, that in tickets alone, we paid about N450 million because of a lack of coordination, lack of being in one decision-making place.

“And in Basic Traveling Allowances (BTAs) alone, we paid about N493 million in 2023 alone, making nearly N1 billion that we paid, just because all the decision-makers cannot be in one place. They don’t have to be shuttling back and forth carrying files to and from Abuja. They don’t have to do that.

“I only need to see the managing director here when I need her. The MD will only come to Abuja on the invitation of the Minister to brief him on the issues going on.”

In his address, the Chairman, Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council, Comrade Hector Nnamdi,  noted that the traditional Aviation Workers’ Week and Award ‘Nite’ started some days ago in the Ministry, adding that yesterday’s event marked the grand finale.

According to the chairman, this year’s theme intends to focus on the Key Performance Index (KPI) and Key Performance Results (KPRs) as may be achieved through workers’ support and collaboration.

He said the Minister of the Workers’ readiness to help drive the 5-point agenda set out by the Ministry is in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Our loyalty to your planned vision for the sector is unwavering. We shall help drive the 5-point agenda in line with the renewed hope mantra of the present government, he assured.

END.