By Chinelo Obogo
Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have called off the indefinite strike after the Federal Government’s intervention.
The Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, said in a statement that the industrial action embarked upon by unions within NiMet was suspended until May 13, 2025.
This development emerged at the end of a crucial meeting convened by the Minister, Festus Keyamo, with leaders of the aggrieved unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP). Speaking after the meeting, national secretary of NUATE, Aba Ocheme, confirmed the decision saying: “We have resolved to suspend the ongoing strike till May 13, 2025, in recognition of the Minister’s timely and sincere intervention. We await the progress of the actions he has committed to take.”
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 percent salary increase, 40 percent hardship/peculiar allowances, annual staff trainings, among others.
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 President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun aimed at fast-tracking the resolution of pressing financial concerns.
He said there would be an 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.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, who was present at the meeting, assured all stakeholders that tangible progress will be made before the May 13 deadline.