Air Traffic Controllers Call for Improved Working Conditions

The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has raised alarm over declining welfare, poor working conditions, inadequate manpower, and stalled career progression among its members.

In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Amos Edino, and General Secretary, Fahad Muhammed Umar, the association warned that the situation has reached a critical point where the safety of personnel, operational stability, and the security of the nation’s airspace can no longer be taken for granted.

NATCA said its concerns are based on the reality of a safety‑critical profession being stretched beyond acceptable limits. According to the association, air traffic controllers currently face operational deficiencies, obsolete working tools, unresolved welfare issues, and severe psychological strain, all of which create avoidable risks in a sector where precision and alertness are essential.

A major issue highlighted is the state of outdated Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure. NATCA noted that critical facilities remain below acceptable reliability standards, forcing controllers to work around system weaknesses that should not exist in a modern aviation environment. The association warned that no airspace can be truly safe when those managing it are compelled to operate beyond the safe limits of available systems.

Equally troubling, according to NATCA, is the lack of structured training, retraining, and manpower development. The association noted that aviation is a dynamic industry requiring continuous professional development, but insufficient investment in recurrent training and the absence of long‑term manpower planning have slowed professional growth and weakened operational resilience.

NATCA also drew attention to unsafe and substandard working conditions at some control tower facilities, citing a recent fire incident at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Controllers reportedly had to escape through dangerous means before being rescued by a crane, yet resumed operations under traumatic conditions immediately afterward. The association said the incident exposes hidden risks controllers face while serving the public under intense pressure.

Another major concern is prolonged career stagnation. NATCA stated that many experienced controllers have remained on Grade Level 16 for six to 13 years, a situation it described as deeply demoralising in a profession that demands discipline, excellence, and long‑term commitment. The association also condemned the failure to review professional and aeromedical allowances, noting that professional allowances have not been reviewed since 2012 and that funds for mandatory ICAO aeromedical examinations remain grossly inadequate.

The statement added that discrepancies in the interpretation of the professional allowances table have persisted despite repeated efforts to seek clarification, resulting in financial hardship and uncertainty. Furthermore, legitimate operational and duty‑related claims submitted by controllers have remained unpaid for many months, contributing to declining morale.

NATCA further advocated that retired air traffic controllers be re‑absorbed into the system at one grade level below their current grade, subject to medical fitness and operational requirements. The association said this would help retain invaluable experience and address manpower gaps, given the long training cycle required to develop competent controllers.

The association also noted that morale has fallen sharply because highly experienced senior controllers increasingly work under junior officers in other departments as airspace managers, a situation it said has deepened frustration and weakened confidence within the system.

NATCA stressed that these issues are not merely about staff welfare but about the safety of passengers, airlines, airport users, and the entire aviation ecosystem. While acknowledging the efforts of the Minister of Aviation and other authorities, the association called for urgent intervention, meaningful engagement, and lasting solutions.