The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed the planned protest by the air traffic controllers. The controllers, who are members of the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (NUATC), are demanding the reversal of the 50 percent deduction. They argue that the reduction in IGR will negatively impact their salaries and working conditions.
The aviation sector is facing a critical situation due to financial constraints faced by agencies within the sector. This has led to a slowdown in safety-critical activities, threatening global aviation safety and security. **Detailed Text:**
The aviation sector is currently grappling with a significant crisis, driven by the mounting financial constraints faced by agencies responsible for ensuring safety and security within the industry.
NATCA’s council has also directed that all air traffic controllers should be prepared to participate in a nationwide strike if necessary. The union is demanding a 20% pay raise, a 10% cost-of-life adjustment, and a reduction in the number of mandatory overtime hours. NATCA is also demanding that the FAA be held accountable for the safety of air traffic controllers.
The unions comprising the National Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Practitioners ( ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Air Transports Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSSAN), states that the protest is to demand the discontinuation of the 50 per cent deduction. The unions led by their leaders, Ocheme Aba (NUATE), Abdul Rasaq Saidu (ANAP), Francis Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Olayinka Abioye NAAPE) and Sikiru Waheed (AUPCTRE), directed their members in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) at the all airports nationwide to join the protest.
The unions said that information available to them indicates that some critical safety activities of agencies like FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, and NiMet are grinding to a halt over lack of funding. They also stated that all efforts on their part to convince the Federal Government to stop the deductions as agencies are cost recovery and not profit-making organisations, have failed. They stressed that the agencies cannot survive on half of their incomes under the model of administration or any other guise whatsoever.
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