BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have agreed to let the dove of peace by suspending their strike which commenced on Tuesday.
The striking workers met with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja on Thursday, where they tabled their grievances.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood.
As a panacea for peace, they have given the aviation ministry until May 13, 2025, to fully address the labour issues they itemised as that would determine their next action.
Joining the NiMET workers in the meeting were; the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
Speaking after the meeting, Comrade Aba Ocheme, National Secretary of NUATE, confirmed that the workers agreed to sheath their swords, albeit temporarily.
He said: “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.”
Corroborating, Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, said: “As a mark of respect for the Minister’s intervention and assurance, we have decided to temporarily call off the strike while the process of resolution is ongoing.”
The unions embarked on industrial action in protest of several unresolved issues, including poor working conditions and disparities in salary relativity compared to other aviation agencies.
Key grievances included the non-implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment to the national minimum wage, which affected at least 30 staff members, demands for a 25% to 35% salary increase, a 40% hardship/peculiar allowance, and the resumption of annual staff training, among other concerns.
In response to the workers’ grievances, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, expressed deep empathy and pledged his strong commitment to finding lasting and practical solutions.
Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, the Minister announced his decision to personally intervene by formally communicating with both the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister of Finance.
This move, he explained, is aimed at fast-tracking the resolution of the pressing financial issues affecting the workforce, particularly those related to wage adjustments and allowances.
As part of a coordinated effort to address the concerns comprehensively, the Minister also revealed the establishment of a Ministerial Committee, which will be headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
The committee has been tasked with engaging relevant institutions, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission as well as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Its mandate is to clarify and resolve issues surrounding subsistence allowances and other related matters that have fueled discontent among staff.
Reaffirming the importance of industrial peace in the aviation sector, Keyamo lauded the union leaders for demonstrating maturity, patriotism, and a willingness to embrace dialogue in pursuit of the national interest.
He described their approach as commendable and a testament to their commitment to the sector’s stability and progress.
Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, gave stakeholders a firm commitment that significant progress would be made before the May 13 deadline.
He urged all parties to remain cooperative and supportive of the ongoing efforts, emphasizing that the ministry remains dedicated to improving the welfare and working conditions of NIMET staff and aviation personnel across the country.
