Domestic passengers groan as ATCs slow down operations over colleagues’ death

• Give NAMA management 2 weeks to address problems

 

By CHUWUEMEKE IWELUNMO

Nigerian passengers on domestic routes yesterday experienced untold hardship following delays as air traffic controllers embarked on a warning strike.

They are to do this by slowing down traffic flow, placing departure time by at least 20 minutes on domestic flights at the four major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, and Kano.

The decision for their action was as a result of the death of an air traffic controller, Aniekan Inuk Effiong who reportedly slumped while on duty in the wee hours of Monday and died shortly after.

The controller who was said to be in his early 40’s slumped while at his duty post at the approach radar of the Abuja airport.

The situation led to an emergency meeting convened by the umbrella body of air traffic controllers, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).

The executive council met yesterday to discuss extensively the state of air traffic operations vis- a vis their collective survival within the system.

The statement signed by Comrade Abayomi Agoro and Felix Agbonlahor president and secretary of NATCA respectively, made the following demands, the ATC operational rooms were provided with adequate and quality ATC operational chairs and headsets.

That at least 500 ATCOs be recruited to address the critical dearth in ATC manpower within the next two years starting with 70 recruits within the next three (3) months.

They also want the approval and implement a 500% upward review of the annual ATC medical allowance to enable ATCOs carry out comprehensive medical assessment among others and that all Air Traffic controllers be enrolled in an enhanced comprehensive health and life insurance schemes that will meet their health needs.

The controllers further called for  a standard medical emergency kits to be provided at all ATC units and a yearly Health Safety Environment (HSE) training programs for ATCOs be conducted while 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.

The Association sought for the staff deployed to ATC from other departments who have been stagnated on the same grade level for over seven (7) years be placed on their appropriate grade levels having fulfilled all requirements to be Air Traffic Controllers.

They also want the immediate approval 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

“That the appropriate management should immediately liaise with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and relevant government bodies to ensure ATCOs retire with their full monthly salary as pension”

They averred that the air traffic control system and operations in Nigeria have been skewed and operated with complete disregard to the well-being of controllers.

Their petition which was made available to newsmen decried the actions of the managers of the system that have consistently refused to act in good faith in order to reverse the ugly situation, resulting in one death too many.

They noted that despite all entreaties from the executive, “no action seems to be initiated to resolve any of the issues, hence we are constrained to use any other means at our disposal to register and send out our frustration with the system”.

Issuing a strike warning, the group further stated, “Commencing from 0600 UTC today, 23rd November 2021 ALL ATC units nationwide should operate flow control”.

They gave the Management of NAMA two weeks to address all issues raised or face industrial action unrest

“All departures should be spaced at 20 minutes intervals. All international flights are exempted. All ATCOs should endeavor to be on high alert should there be a need to escalate this exercise beyond flow control, we are ready to further such actions”.

They disclosed that the exercise would be for two days and will be strictly executed at the four major airports with strict coordination from adjacent aerodromes before any start-up is issued.

The executive solicited maximum cooperation in order to get our message out loud and clear.

Meanwhile, airlines have been reporting delays as a result of the scaling down traffic flow; a situation that has put passengers on the edge over delays and in some cases cancellations.

Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzo said the carrier’s 7:00 Port-Harcourt flight was number 20 in the sequence.

His words, “Our Owerri of 7:30 am is currently number 12 in the sequence. An Arik who is number three has just been told not to expect startup clearance before 9:40 am in an hour! We’re calling all our passengers right now to inform them of delays we are going to be having as a result of the situation”.

This came to many operators as a rude shock as the short notice from controllers did not give them the time to relay the situation to already booked passengers and other prospective passengers.

They noted that this would have huge economic implications for the industry, urging NAMA to work with the unions to resolve this immediately.