Aviation unions have issued a strong warning to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), declaring their intention to resume a strike that was previously suspended earlier this year due to unresolved issues concerning the agency’s failure to honor an agreement signed with the workers in January.
The letter, jointly signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), expressed deep dissatisfaction with NiMet’s management for allegedly breaching the terms of the agreement signed on January 28, 2025. The unions emphasized that they are “disheartened” by NiMet’s failure to fulfill the commitments made to the workers, particularly concerning the implementation of allowances and wage increases.
The core issue revolves around NiMet’s failure to negotiate and implement an agreed-upon allowance by the end of February 2025, despite the fact that one and a half months have passed without any substantial progress. The unions further voiced their frustration, noting that NiMet’s management had provided no explanation or justification for the delay.
Another point of contention raised by the unions is the withholding of the signed conditions of service document. According to the unions, despite repeated requests, NiMet management has not shared the document, which has reportedly been sent to the relevant ministry. The unions suspect foul play, accusing the management of deliberately withholding the document that outlines the agreements made with the workers.
The unions also highlighted unresolved financial issues, including the non-payment of key entitlements agreed upon in the January agreement. These include a promised wage increase ranging from 25 to 35 percent, a 40 percent peculiar allowance, and an outstanding balance of the 2019 minimum wage. In addition, the unions pointed out that 30 names were mistakenly omitted from the 2019 minimum wage payment list and are still awaiting payment.
Concerns were also raised regarding the agency’s apparent disregard for an important issue: salary relativity. This issue, which has received the support of the Minister of Aviation, remains unresolved, leaving workers frustrated. The unions also expressed discontent with the management’s decision to prioritize executive retreats over staff training programs. The unions noted that while senior staff have been attending several retreats, no efforts have been made to address the training needs of workers at lower grade levels.
The unions emphasized that they had previously suspended a planned strike in January 2025 in the hopes of reaching an amicable resolution. However, they expressed regret that the management had not reciprocated their goodwill, choosing instead to ignore the agreements. They have now set a deadline of April 6, 2025, for the implementation of all aspects of the signed agreement, warning that failure to meet this deadline would result in the resumption of the suspended strike.
One NiMet employee confirmed that the much-anticipated 25 to 35 percent wage increase has been approved but has yet to be paid, with workers expecting payment by April or May 2025. However, some employees have shared their frustrations, revealing that NiMet has not fulfilled its obligations regarding the 2019 minimum wage. One employee explained that only 10 percent of the 2019 wage had been paid, with the remaining 90 percent still outstanding. The arrears, which were partially paid in August 2024, only covered 34 of the 43 months owed to the staff, leaving nine months of unpaid wages.
The worker also mentioned that despite the Federal Government’s announcement of a N40,000 peculiar allowance for all civil servants, NiMet staff have yet to receive any of this allowance, further exacerbating their financial challenges. In addition, while the new minimum wage approved by the government is expected to affect civil servants, NiMet employees are still uncertain about when or if they will see any increase in their salaries.
Another staff member shared the financial hardships faced by workers, particularly regarding children’s school fees and rising living costs. The employee urged the government and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and alleviate the suffering of NiMet staff. “We are civil servants working for the progress of this nation, but we are struggling to make ends meet,” the employee said.
The discontent among NiMet employees has been building for several years, particularly after the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage. Workers have struggled with low pay, with salaries for certain levels reportedly remaining as low as N74,000 until 2023. This led to agitation, and the then Minister of Labour approved a 10 percent wage increase for workers in the aviation sector, including NiMet. However, the problems have continued under the current administration, with workers now demanding the full implementation of the 25 to 35 percent wage increase announced by President Bola Tinubu.
NiMet staff are also unhappy with the discontinuation of a N35,000 wage support that had been paid until February of the previous year but ceased while other ministries continued to receive it.
Given the mounting grievances, the unions have warned that if the management continues to delay addressing their demands, they will not hesitate to resume the suspended strike. One employee raised concerns about the agency’s failure to include NiMet in the budget for the new minimum wage, expressing doubts that it will be implemented anytime soon.
With a significant number of NiMet staff members reportedly relying on loans and struggling to afford basic necessities such as transportation to work, the unions are calling on the government to urgently address the welfare of aviation workers. The situation has reached a breaking point, with workers insisting that their voices be heard and their demands met.
In January 2025, the unions had given NiMet a 14-day ultimatum to resolve these long-standing issues, threatening industrial action if no satisfactory resolution was found. Should the agency fail to act by the newly set deadline of April 6, the workers have made it clear that they will resume their suspended strike without further notice.
