NiMet moves to avert strike,  invites aviation unions to dialogue

Credit: NAN

The Management of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) hasmoved to avert strike in the sector,  inviting the three Aviation Unions to a dialogue meeting “in respect” of the proposed strike by the unions.

The  Director of Human Resource Management Administration of NiMet, Nasiru Sani,  in a letter to the unions in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasised that the letter was addressed to the three aviation unions’ leaders, who had raised concerns over the conditions of service and welfare issues of their members with the threat of industrial action.

The unions include: National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).

According to the management, the agitations of the unions include; the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, non-payment of nine months’ arrears of consequential adjustments, and the refusal to implement the reviewed Scheme of Service.

The management said that most issues raised by the unions require intervention from relevant government agencies, which the agency had been engaging with.

The management also said it had addressed staff concerns, including securing approval for an upward review of Cost Recovery (IGR) to improve staff welfare.

The management also highlighted ongoing staff training programmes and payment of Conditions of Service Allowance to all staff.

“This unions’ call for industrial action was deemed premature, lacking the required seven days notice, and potentially having security implications.

“NiMet’s management remains open to dialogue, extending an invitation to the unions to clarify perceived grey areas and uphold harmonious working relationships”, the management said.

According to the management, it is unfair for the unions to allege that all elements of the agreement of Jan. 28, 2025 remain agonisingly even when management had related with the relevant government agencies.

“It must be noted that most of the issues that were raised were not those that management could handle with just the rule of thumb.

“They were issues that needed the interventions of other government agencies that management have related with and, in most of the cases, are awaiting responses or approvals.

“Management noted the unions’ recognition that the conditions of service had been forwarded to the ministry for processing, “ it said.

The management, however, refuted unions’ “statement that it could negatively tamper with a document that would also be beneficial to management members.

“It is so demeaning for anyone to have insinuated and suspected any foul play on such a collective document.

“ It would rather be observed that the Director – General added allowances that were not negotiated for at the committee meetings to enrich content of the document, which he, of course, had the prerogative to do,“ the management stated.