The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has condemned a situation where the leadership of all aviation unions in one agency
In a release by the President of NATCA, Mr Amos Edino, titled
‘ATSSSAN is a national union and not agency base:NATCA solicit for equality in union leadership, Edino noted that ATSSSAN, NUATE, and ANAP must never revolve around a single institution.
According to NATCA, aviation is an integrated system-union and leadership must reflect that structure adding that the Nigerian aviation ecosystem is a multi-agency operational framework consisting of various agencies. – NAMA ·NCAA · NCAT ·NSIB ·NiMet and FAAN
Others are private airlines and allied service providers.
NATCA said each agency contributes uniquely to safety, efficiency, and national development stressing that no one agency carries the whole system, and no one agency should control its collective labour voice.
“When attempts are made to ensure that:
ATSSSAN leadership must come from
FAAN,when
·NUATE and ANAP leadership are already FAAN-dominated,
this is not representation, it is monopolization, and NATCA must strongly draw attention to the risks”.
Edino noted that such centralization weakens professional diversity, suppresses minority voices,and threatens the equilibrium that keeps our industry functioning safely and collaboratively.
“Why Monopolizing Union Leadership Endangers the System
Allowing one agency to lead all unions creates:
Distorted representation,
Marginalization of non-airport operational agencies, Imbalanced decision-making,
Risk of policies favouring one institution over the entire system, Reduced trust and industry cohesion,
Loss of the checks and balances needed in a complex aviation environment”
He said aviation belongs to all who work in it, and leadership must reflect that shared ownership adding that ATSSSAN is a National union, not a branch of any Agency as it was created to represent senior staff across the entire aviation space
“Its leadership must reflect national diversity, not agency dominance.
NATCA stands for fairness, balanced representation, and respect for each institution’s operational identity.
Our Call for Balance,Fairness, and Structural Integrity
NATCA calls on all aviation workers to stand by principles that protect our shared future”
He called for the rejection of any move-open or subtle-to make one agency the dominant centre of aviation union leadership, insisting on leadership diversity across ATSSSAN, NUATE, ANAP, and all labour structures.
Edino further called for fair representation for NAMA, NCAA, NCAT, NSIB, NiMET, FAAN,and private-sector professionals and promote democratic, transparent, and inclusive processes in all labour elections.
While calling for the preservation of the independence and neutrality of aviation labour movements, NATCA said their commitment is not against FAAN or any agency but commitment is for fairness,
balance,professionalism, and industry-wide cohesion.
While FAAN remains a valued and essential partner in airport operations, no single agency should dominate or dictate the direction of aviation labour leadership.
Let it be stated clearly:
Aviation is broader than FAAN.
Unionism is bigger than any one agency.
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