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NAMA, Air Traffic Controllers reach agreement on welfare

By on March 8, 2015

After many months of threat to lay down tools over alleged poor welfare package, the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC), last week entered into agreement with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The agreement was in respect of the vested additional emoluments for the critical job they do as controllers.
Under the aegis of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the controllers said since the NAMA management had decided to disregard the agreement it willingly signed with NATCA/ATSSSAN on January 18, 2015 and owing to the fact that the time agreed would elapse on March 1, 2015 the ATCs in NAMA had no option than to resume the action earlier suspended as from March 2, 2015.
But NAMA management met with NATCA executive and convened a meeting presided over by the Supervising Minister of Labour & Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

According to NAMA, during the meeting, the overview of the issues in dispute from the perspectives of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN)/NATCA and the management of NAMA) were tabled.

The meeting also looked at the advancement of the recently licensed controllers, promotion of NAMA staff, air traffic controllers salary structure and the re-designation of the Directorate of Operation as Directorate of Air Traffic Management.

NAMA said it had forwarded the demand of NATCA to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation and the members of the association would be carried along during the process.

On the sponsored World Bank training, NAMA said it was agreed it would pay the differentials in the course allowance to eligible staff who attended the training in accordance with extant public service rules as well as NAMA conditions of service and present evidence of payment at the next meeting in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

“It was resolved that based on NAMA income and expenditure profile, and in compliance with requisite due process, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation will 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 (NSIWC) for necessary action. It was agreed that the proposal should be immediately acknowledged by the NSIWC as part of the resolutions of this meeting. It was further noted that the NSIWC will complete the process of forwarding the proposals to government within two weeks for further necessary action,” NAMA said.

The agency said based on the above conclusions, the leadership of NATCA agreed to brief its members on the outcome of the meeting and communicate to the Federal Ministry of Labour & Productivity within 48 hours with a view to suspending the intended withdrawal of services.

 

[ThisDay]