Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have suspended their strike following the intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The unions had downed tools over a number of unresolved grievances relating to poor working conditions, including salary relativity with other aviation agencies, non-implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment to the national minimum wage (affecting at least 30 omitted staff), demands for a 25/35% salary increase, 40% hardship/peculiar allowances, annual staff trainings, among others
But after a meeting convened by the Minister with leaders of the aggrieved unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the strike was suspended until May 13, 2025, pending the outcome of the Minister’s intervention on the issues raised.
A statement by the spokesman of the Minister, Tunde Moshood, quoted the union leaders as confirming the suspension of the strike.
Comrade Aba Ocheme, National Secretary of NUATE, said: “We have resolved to suspend the ongoing strike till May 13, 2025, in recognition of the Honourable Minister’s timely and sincere intervention. We await the progress of the actions he has committed to take.”
Corroborating the position, Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, said, “As a mark of respect for the Honourable Minister’s intervention and assurance, we have decided to temporarily call off the strike while the process of resolution is ongoing.”
In response, the Minister expressed empathy with the affected workers and pledged his commitment to finding lasting solutions to their concerns.
As part of immediate steps, he announced the following:
“Personal intervention through formal communications to both the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister of Finance, aimed at fast-tracking the resolution of pressing financial concerns;
“Establishment of a Ministerial Committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, to interface with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to clarify issues surrounding subsistence allowances and related matters.”
Daily Trust reports that the strike has affected flight operations partially as Air Peace announced nationwide suspension of its flight until NiMet called off the strike.
Normal flight operations are expected to resume immediately.
