Abuja On-Street Parking: 4,000 To lose Jobs 

Over 4000 staff working for the on-street Park and Pay scheme on Abuja streets will soon lose their jobs following last week court judgement which nullified the activities of the scheme.

Speaking with the newsmen yesterday in Abuja the president, Control Parking Association of Nigeria (CPAN), Otunba Olusegun Olarewaju explained that staff to be affected by the court judgement includes various categories of graduates, which include graduates and those with masters degrees, under the pay-rolls of the operators, mechanics and even other artisans.

“Over 4000 jobs, both directly and indirectly is to be lost in Abuja if the court judgement nullifying the activities of the park and pay scheme stands. For instance, every one of the operators in the scheme has an average of over 800 staff working in his pay-roll. Not to talk of other ancillary workers who patronise the operators every day. These include, shoes shiners, mechanics who handle our vehicles, and other artisans”, he said.

Olarewaju who is the chief executive officer, Platinum Parking management Services Ltd (PPMS) disclosed that the operators in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration have concluded plans to appeal against the FCT High Court judgement, which he described as a ‘misinterpretation of the law’.

He added that his company pays about N7 million as salary to it workers every month, after it has paid a percentage to the FCT administration, adding that the operations of the scheme was not meant to make profit.

Recall that last week, an Abuja High Court, presided by Justice Peter Affen had nullified the activities of Abuja on-street Park and pay scheme, declaring that the project was illegal.

However, Olarewaju noted that the activities of the scheme was based on a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement the operators signed with the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, which is in compliance with the FCT Act of 2005, as passed by the Senate.

He said that his company operates at Utako, Garki, Wuse, Asokoro and Maitama areas of Abuja , adding that his the entire four parking operators have about 20,000 parking spaces, but also said that it not all the spaces that are used on a daily bases.