Passengers stranded as air traffic controllers embark on warning strike

Hundreds of passengers were stranded yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Inaternational Airport, Lagos due to a warning strike embarked upon by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) over welfare package and epileptic air navigation equipment.

 

The warning strike, according to sources, was a prelude to a total industrial action scheduled to begin on Monday.

 

At various terminals at the airport, stranded passengers were loitering around after they were told they would not be able to embark on their trips owing to the strike.

 

At the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), most of the passengers sat on the floor following the cancellation of the morning flights that supposed to have taken off by 6:00am or 7:00am.

The situation was the same at the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Terminal 2 (MMA2).

 

An Arik Air passenger, who planned to fly to Jos at 11:30am, said he could not because of the strike.

The passenger, who refused to mention his name, said: “We are still hoping that the situation will be resolved because we have been told that we should keep calm as the agency involved was taking up the matter with the association. So, I believe that I can still travel later in the day.”

 

It was gathered that NATCA went on the six-hour warning strike to drive home its demand over welfare package, which, it said, had been dragging on for some time.

 

The National President of Air Traffic Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Benjamin Okewu, explained in an interview that NATCA is an affiliate of ATSSAN, adding that yesterday’s “action is temporary withdrawal of service”.

 

Okewu noted that the group gave adequate notice to the Federal Government that it was embarking on the strike, adding that the action would be called off by 1:00pm.

 

Asked if the strike would affect international flights operation, he said it would not affect international flights operation since it would be called off by 1:00pm.

 

The General Manager Public Affairs, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, said one of the main reasons why NATCA members went on strike was because of their allowances.

 

Mrs. Adetona added that there were many issues surrounding the industrial action, noting that NAMA was trying to resolve the crisis.

 

NAMA, in a statement, said it regretted any inconvenience caused the travelling public as a result of flight delays.

 

Flight operations resumed at the airports later in the afternoon.