By Seun Ibiyemi
Staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have called off their strike after intervention from the Federal Government.
The workers had initiated the strike in protest against poor working conditions, which resulted in flight disruptions and left passengers stranded. However, the industrial action was suspended following a meeting with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
The strike began on Wednesday, with staff citing a number of unresolved welfare issues, including the failure of NiMET management to negotiate or implement agreed financial allowances, unpaid entitlements, and issues related to wage awards, peculiar allowances, and outstanding payments from the 2019 minimum wage.
They also accused the agency’s management of withholding crucial documents, ignoring requests for the inclusion of omitted staff in past payments, and neglecting vital training programmes in favour of executive retreats.
Following a closed-door meeting on Thursday between Minister Keyamo and NiMET executives, the strike was called off.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gbenga Saka, the minister’s special adviser on media, confirmed that the strike would be suspended that evening. The post read: “The Aviation Union to Suspend Ongoing Strike tonight.”
The industrial action had led to disruptions, including Air Peace grounding all of its flights across the country due to the lack of QNH (hazardous weather) reports, which are essential for ensuring safe landings.