The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), has raise an alarm that there is shortage of Air Traffic Controllers, (ATCOs), advising that there is urgent need to recruit them into the aviation sector as soon as possible.
President of NATCA, Mr Amos Edino, noted that the current ATCOs are saddled with excessive workloads, extended duty hours and stress as it is affecting performance and overall well-being.
The President who spoke at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, said due to manpower constraints, ATCOs were forced to work beyond the standard two-hour shift per session, with some enduring continuous shifts of four to five hours.
According to him, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, responsible for ATCO training was struggling with capacity limitations.
Edino, who urged government to revise the salary structure in line with international best practices, also raised concerns over occupational health risks.
He urged government to implement a comprehensive health care package to address these challenges.
While lamenting the working conditions in many control towers and operational rooms, he cited non-functional elevators that force controllers to climb over 250 steps daily to reach their workstations.
