No Disruption of Air Traffic Service Monday, Says NAMA
The Management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has assured Nigerians that there would not be any disruption of flight operations on Monday due to the planned strike action by the Air Traffic Controllers.
This is because the agency has reportedly resolved all the issues raised by the controllers about their remuneration which led to agitation and six hours warning strike that paralysed air operations last Thursday, with a plan for full-blown strike action from Monday.
In a statement signed by its general manager, public affairs, Olajumoke Adetona, NAMA said there would be no disruption in the provision of air traffic services on Monday, April 20 in line with the agency’s mandate to provide safe, economic, efficient and expeditious air navigation services.
The statement reads: “The agency wishes to restate that the current agitation by Air Traffic Controllers on harmonisation of professional allowances with other professional groups in NAMA has been addressed on its merit and resolved by the Federal Government.”
It is estimated that over N400 million was lost by the airlines on Thursday when the controllers stopped their services officially for six hours, but according to airline operators, skeletal services continued till the end of the day.
NAMA said, “On the strength of this resolution, there is no cause for any industrial disharmony by professional groups in the agency and further to our commitment to staff welfare, NAMA wishes to reassure the general public of the safety and security of the Nigerian airspace. Airlines, operators and other service providers who are dependent on the agency’s services are advised to go ahead with flights as scheduled.”
Air Traffic Controllers has threatened to go on strike three times this year and at every threat they had met with the management of NAMA and reached resolutions and those resolutions were said to have been taken to the Minister of Aviation for immediately action, which did not materialise until the strike action last Thursday.