The indefinite strike initiated by employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has been suspended following the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
Following a crucial stakeholder meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, Festus Keyamo announced that the government and NiMET unions had come to terms on several issues, including salary imbalances and the enforcement of the revised minimum wage.
“We have resolved all issues. There was no major disagreement. The few issues that existed were mainly related to implementation and some miscommunication between us and the unions. I must say that since we came into this ministry, we have enjoyed very, very cordial relations with all the aviation unions, and they can testify that we’re on the same page with most of their demands,” he said.
Keyamo emphasized that the government had acknowledged the unions’ grievances, especially regarding pay gaps between NiMET staff and employees of other aviation agencies.
He recognized the dissatisfaction among NiMET employees stemming from the pay disparities, pointing out that their earnings lagged behind those of similar aviation bodies.
“I agreed that the salaries of NiMET, in particular, were atrocious. They weren’t at par with other aviation agencies, and it was only natural that their patience would run thin,” Keyamo explained.
The workers, represented by various unions, had earlier taken a firm stance, threatening to cripple flight operations nationwide.
However, tensions eased during a tense meeting in Abuja after the Minister stepped in to mediate, ultimately leading to the suspension of the industrial action.
One of the immediate impacts of the strike was felt by Air Peace, which halted its nationwide operations, citing the absence of critical weather updates and its commitment to passenger safety.
On Tuesday morning, NiMET staff gathered at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, chanting protest slogans such as “No weather, no flights” and “Fly at your own risk.” Their strike followed the collapse of negotiations with the agency’s management.
In a letter jointly signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees, the unions criticized NiMET for failing to honor previous agreements on financial entitlements.
These include the non-payment of wage awards, peculiar allowances, and arrears from the 2019 minimum wage.
The workers also accused NiMET’s leadership of withholding key documents, excluding certain staff from earlier disbursements, and prioritizing executive retreats over essential staff training.
Faced with unmet demands, the unions had declared a total withdrawal of services starting April 22, vowing to continue until further notice. However, following Thursday’s dialogue with Keyamo, the strike was officially suspended.
