The members of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) Thursday evening issued a statement threatening to commence an indefinite strike as from Monday next should government fail to meet their demands.
A statement signed by Mr Victor Eyaru and Olawode Benjamin president and general secretary respectively, however notified the public that the protest action of the 16th of April, 2015 by withdrawing their services temporarily was as a result of the intolerable failure of the Federal Government to address the unfair disparity between Air Traffic Controllers rating allowances and some group of staff in Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) since 2011.
“Suffice to say that the leadership of ATSSSAN, NATCA executives, NAMA management, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission with other top government functionaries, met to resolve the issue amongst other grievances of the Air Traffic Controllers, made recommendations to government for implementation”
” When it became obvious that there was no political will to implement the agreements reached so far, the Air Traffic Controllers had no choice other than to register our displeasure, hence the protest action”
“Furtherance to this warning action by Air Traffic Controllers today 16/04/15, NATCA having reviewed its position vis-à-vis the body language of the government, particularly the Hon Minister of Aviation Chief Osita Chidioka, has resolved that if by “0000 hours” of Monday 20th April, 2015 the issue is not fully resolved and convey an approval for immediate implementation to NAMA management, there will be no option left than to embark on a total withdrawal of air traffic services until such a time this singular demand is fully met”
Air passengers across the country were Thursday stranded at various airports following the six hours warning strike by ATCs.
