Passengers travelling from different airports across the country have been stranded following a two-day protest embarked on by the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
Bibian Anekwe News reports that the association announced the protest in a statement on Tuesday by its President, Abayomi Agoro, and Secretary-General, Agbonlahor Felix.
The statement said the air controllers are protesting the death of one of its members, Aniekan Effiong Inuk, who died while on duty at the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja on Monday.
It stated the protest called “flow control” will run from November 23 till 24 to register their displeasure over the lack of poor working conditions.
The statement disclosed that nine members of the association have died on duty due to poor working conditions and inadequate staffing in the last two years.
NACTA, however, asked the relevant authorities in the aviation industry to quickly ensure that some of its demands are met within two weeks.
It said: “That standard medical emergency kits be provided at all ATC units and a yearly Health Safety Environment (HSE) training programs for ATCOs be conducted.
“That all ATC communication facilities and equipment, most especially, the VHF radios and SATCOM links be holistically rectified in other to address the perennial communication problems encountered in Nigerian airspace.
“That the staff deployed to ATC from other departments who have been stagnated on the same grade level for over seven years be placed on their appropriate grade levels having fulfilled all requirements to be air traffic controllers.
“That all appropriate managements should immediately approve and implement an upward review of the remunerations of contract ATCOs to make for them to earn Aerodrome and approach rating allowances.
“That the appropriate management should immediately liaise with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other relevant government bodies to correct the anomalies observed in the recently approved ATC Scheme of Service to allow for implementation in a bid to eliminate the stagnation of air traffic controllers.”
Source; Bibian Anekwe News
