The Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has called on the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to intervene in the crisis that is currently brewing between its mother agency; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and
the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The President of NATCA, Mr. Abayomi Agoro,who spoke on the matter warned that the repeat of locking out Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) or any other member of staff of NAMA by Aviation Security (AVSEC), a department in FAAN may lead to industrial unrest if care was not taken.
Recall that Aviation Security (AVSEC) had on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja locked out some ATCs of NAMA and staff of the agency for not having the current On-Duty-Cards (ODCs).
About 20 NAMA staff were said to be affected by this latest lockout on Wednesday.
Ontimenewsng.com learnt that apart from the ATCs, operational vehicles of NAMA were also barred from entering the restricted areas of the airport based on the alleged expiration of access permit.
The denial of access, it was further learnt, led to flight delays, while some passengers were stranded for about three hours.
The NATCA boss said that it was not the first time NAMA staff would be locked out of their workplace over ODC issues, but maintained that the renewal of the card lies with FAAN, which the agency had failed to do.
Agoro explained that in a bid to forestall the embarrassments, it was necessary for the ministry to intervene by setting up a committee.
He also appealed to FAAN to always consult its database for the capturing of its members for ODCs.
“FAAN has a responsibility to ensure that everyone has unhindered access to their workplace. The operational vehicles were denied access to the airport.
“This is not the first time that AVSEC will behave in such a manner with us, but we want a permanent stop to it. We want the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to intervene in this matter and tell FAAN to do the right thing.
“Anytime NAMA is asked to produce the names of its eligible staff by FAAN, FAAN should do it early and inform them of every stage of the process. FAAN has no right to deny people their ODCs and still deny them access to work.
“To forestall all these embarrassments or whatever, the ministry should set up a body to investigate FAAN and NAMA operations and their activities. FAAN has a responsibility to ensure that everyone has unhindered access to their workplace.”
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