The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) have called for urgent salary relativity and improved working conditions for staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
At a joint press conference, the unions expressed deep concern over the poor remuneration of NiMet workers, describing them as among the worst-paid employees in the Nigerian public service.
Despite the critical role NiMet plays in providing essential weather information for various sectors, including aviation, maritime, agriculture, and event planning, its workers have been repeatedly denied salary enhancements and federal wage awards.
The unions highlighted the disparity between NiMet and other aviation agencies such as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), which have consistently received salary increments. They questioned why NiMet staffs have been left out of government-approved wage adjustments, including the recent 40% salary harmonization grant.
The union leaders further attributed the current crisis to years of neglect by successive managements and the failure of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to grant NiMet workers the same benefits as their counterparts in other federal agencies.
They demanded the immediate implementation of all outstanding government-approved salary adjustments, including the 2019 minimum wage consequential adjustments, the 25-35% wage award, and the 40% peculiar allowance. They also called for the urgent approval of NiMet’s Scheme of Service and reviewed Conditions of Service.
As a long-term solution, the unions proposed that NiMet be granted the ability to generate revenue independently, allowing it to determine its own salary structure outside the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This, they argued, would free the agency from bureaucratic constraints and ensure fair compensation for its staff.
The unions issued a notice of service withdrawal, with an indefinite strike scheduled to commence on February 4, 2025. However, following a meeting with NiMet management, they have decided to suspend the industrial action to allow further engagement with relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the NSIWC, and the Ministry of Finance.
In their final appeal, the unions urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), to intervene and resolve the lingering salary disparities in the aviation sector.
They expressed optimism that their demands would be met and reassured NiMet workers of their commitment to achieving a lasting resolution.
