NiMet staff suspend strike, set May 13 deadline for resolution

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) staff have temporarily suspended their indefinite strike following swift intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

The decision to call off the strike, which had lasted just 48 hours, was announced in a statement released by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Tunde Moshood.

According to the statement, NiMet employees, under the leadership of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), agreed to pause the industrial action until May 13, 2025, allowing the federal government time to address the issues raised.

The unions, during a meeting with Minister Keyamo, expressed appreciation for his prompt engagement and commitment to resolving their grievances.

“The staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has suspended its indefinite strike, barely 48 hours after its commencement,” the statement read.

“The suspension follows the minister’s personal intervention and his appeal for time to work through the concerns.”

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Comrade Aba Ocheme, General Secretary of NUATE, stated that the strike’s suspension reflects the unions’ recognition of the minister’s sincere efforts.

He emphasized that the unions will keep a close watch on the government’s implementation of the promised solutions.

Similarly, Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, said the temporary halt was a gesture of respect for Keyamo’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue.

In response to the unions’ demands, Minister Keyamo pledged to personally engage the President and the Minister of Finance to expedite action on the financial components of the agreement. He also announced the creation of a ministerial committee, headed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Kana.

The committee is tasked with collaborating with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Ministry of Labour to resolve the outstanding issues.

Keyamo underscored the importance of maintaining industrial peace within the aviation sector and lauded the unions for choosing dialogue over prolonged disruption.

Dr. Kana assured that significant headway would be made before the May 13 deadlines, calling for the full cooperation of all stakeholders.

The strike suspension has brought much-needed relief to the aviation industry.

During the brief industrial action, several airlines were forced to suspend operations due to the unavailability of NiMet’s critical weather forecasting services, while others hiked ticket prices, sparking safety and affordability concerns.

With normal operations now resuming, all eyes are on the government to meet its commitments within the stipulated timeline and avert a potential return to strike action after May 13.