Air traffic safety engineers threaten strike

The Nigerian Air Traffic Safety Engineers (NAAE) announced on 23 March 2009 that it may begin a strike on the same day to protest the non-payment of allowances. The action comes after the NAAE's parent body issued a fresh seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) on 17 March. NAMA had earlier averted a threatened strike in February 2009 by opening talks with the NAAE, but the NAAE is now stating that NAMA still has not adequately addressed its demands. The NAAE is requesting appropriate allowances for engineers with professional licensing in communications, navigation, surveillance and electromechanical systems. If the NAAE follows through with the strike, it could paralyse navigation, communication and surveillance in Nigerian airspace.