Workers’ unions under the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have announced the suspension of their ongoing strike following a timely intervention by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN.
The industrial action is now on hold until May 13, 2025, pending the outcome of the Minister’s promised actions.
This resolution came after a high-level meeting convened by the Minister in Abuja with leaders of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the two main unions leading the strike.
Speaking after the meeting, Comrade Aba Ocheme, National Secretary of NUATE, confirmed the union’s decision to suspend the strike.
“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,” he stated.
Echoing the sentiment, Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, remarked: “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.”
The unions had earlier grounded operations in protest over a range of unresolved issues, including non-implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment to the national minimum wage affecting over 30 staff, salary relativity with other aviation agencies, a proposed 25/35% salary increase, a 40% hardship/peculiar allowance, and lack of consistent annual staff training.
In response to these concerns, Minister Keyamo expressed solidarity with the affected workers and outlined immediate steps to address their grievances.
These include:
A personal intervention through formal communication with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister of Finance to fast-track resolution of financial concerns;
The establishment of a Ministerial Committee, headed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, to engage with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on the issues of subsistence allowances and related matters.
The Minister emphasized the critical need for industrial harmony in the aviation sector and lauded the union leaders for their patriotism and readiness to embrace dialogue.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, assured all stakeholders that concrete progress will be made before the May 13 deadline, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to improved welfare and working conditions for NiMet staff and aviation personnel in general.
According to Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Minister remains fully committed to delivering on the promises made during the meeting and ensuring the restoration of industrial peace within the sector
