Tension is mounting following a lockout of Air Traffic Controllers by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja. This is as the controllers are seeking the intervention of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development after no fewer than 20 of their staff were locked out.
Already flights were delayed following the denial to allow the ATCs even with On Duty Cards (ODC) access their place of assignments as a clear lavk of synergy between the agencies created a lacuna. It was learnt that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency staff were not in possession of current On-Duty-Cards (ODCs).
Also NAMA operational vehicles were also barred from access to the restricted areas of the airport based on the alleged expiration of the access permit.
This action led to flight delays, while some passengers were stranded for about three hours
NATCA leadership, through Abayomi Agoro has equally warned that a repeat of this action will lead to unrest stating that ODC renewal lies with FAAN, which the agency had failed to do.
He said: “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 permanently 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 stages 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.” Agoro said.