Air Traffic Controllers begin 2-day strike to demand better working condition
Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers, ATCs have commenced two days of disruption of early morning domestic flights across the country to press home their demands for better working conditions.
The action of the Traffic Controllers is coming after another ATC, Mr. Aniekan Effiong Inuk, died in the early hours of Monday, November 22, 2021 while on duty at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The disruption is expected to last for three hours each day between 6 am and 9 am.
The statement reads in part, “The council observed that within the last two years, Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association has lost nine of her members on active service due to stress-related health complications which seem associated with poor working conditions and inadequate staffing. “
“Several appeals to management and other stakeholders in the industry and inactions by appropriate managers on communiqués from the Association’s past Annual General Meetings had failed to address the issues. “
“The death of Mr. Aniekan Effiong Inuk on active duty at Abuja airport whose sad event is not unconnected with the unavailability of an operational vehicle to move him to a hospital in record time amongst others is one too many.”
“Hence, Air Traffic Controllers are embarking on a three (3) hours flow control for two days, 23rd and 24th November 2021 from 0600 UTC to 0900 UTC to register our displeasure and call the attention of relevant authorities and the public to quickly address our concerns without further delay.”
Some of the demands of the workers include asking the government to “approve and implement a 500% upward review of the annual ATC medical allowance to enable ATCOs to carry out comprehensive medical assessment among other stuff.”
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“That all Air Traffic controllers be enrolled in an enhanced comprehensive health and life insurance scheme that will meet their health needs. “
“That standard medical emergency kits be provided at all ATC units and yearly Health Safety Environment (HSE) training programs for ATCOs be conducted,” amongst other demands.
