Labour minister intervenes in NAMA - NATCA dispute

The planned industrial action for today by Air Traffic Controllers in Nigeria has been put on hold as the Supervising Minister of Labour & Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, and the management of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency on one side reached an agreement with the ATCs on areas of dispute at an emergency meeting.

 

The Air Traffic Controllers under the auspices of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) had planned an industrial action for today to pressure NAMA management to respond to its earlier demands among which is a request for the reactivation of CNS/ATM equipment within the Nigeria’s airspace.

 

During the meeting, all issues in dispute from the perspectives of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN)/NATCA and the Management of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were exhaustively discussed there was an accord that the issues raised were right.

 

 

At the meeting was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mohammed Abass.

The meeting resolved letters conveying approval of advancement recently licensed Air Traffic Controllers be concluded in a week and that the promotion of NAMA Staff should be completed and forwarded to the Minister of Aviation in two weeks time.

 

On the Air Traffic Controllers Salary Structure,it was revealed that the request by NATCA and the report of Dr. Grace Ankeli on the issue had been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Aviation by NAMA and there was an agreement that same would be acted upon by Monday.

 

Also on the yearning for the re-designation of the Directorate of Operation as Directorate of Air Traffic Management, it was said that NAMA had forwarded the demand of NATCA to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation and that the association would be carried along during the process.

 

It was also resolved that NAMA was to pay the differentials in the Course allowance to eligible staff who attended the World Bank sponsored training in accordance with extant Public Service Rules as well as NAMA Conditions of Service and present evidence of payment be made available at the next meeting in the Federal Ministry of Labour & Productivity. 

 

It was further resolved that based on NAMA income and expenditure profile, and in compliance with requisite due process, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation would package proposal on the issues of allowances payable to Air Traffic Controllers as agreed, and forward same to the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission for necessary action.

 

Furthermore, it was agreed that the proposal should be immediately acknowledged by the NSIWC as part of the resolutions of the meeting. It was further noted that the NSIWC would complete the process of forwarding the proposals to Government within two weeks for further necessary action.

 

While it was also resolved that the conclusions be monitored by the Labour and Productivity Ministry,it was also agreed that a meeting to assess progress on the issues shall be convened in the next four weeks.

 

It was concluded that the leadership of NATCA should brief its members on the outcome of the meeting and communicate same to the Federal Ministry of Labour & Productivity within 48hours with a view to suspending the intended withdrawal of services.