Three major aviation unions in Nigeria have threatened to resume a suspended strike over alleged breaches of agreement by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). The unions, in a jointly signed letter, accused the agency’s management of failing to honour a collective bargaining agreement reached on January 28, 2025.
The unions involved are 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).
The letter, which was made available to journalists, expressed disappointment in NiMet’s management, saying the agency failed to negotiate and implement an agreed allowance before February 2025 as promised.
“One and a half months later, the management refused to negotiate, let alone implement the allowance. No explanation has been given,” the unions said.
The workers also accused the agency of withholding the document containing negotiated conditions of service. Despite repeated demands, the unions said NiMet had refused to share the document with the union signatories.
They listed other unresolved matters including a 25–35 per cent wage increase, a 40 per cent peculiar allowance, nine months’ outstanding payment from the 2019 minimum wage, and the exclusion of 30 workers from the wage payment list.
The unions also raised concerns over salary relativity issues, saying the management had ignored these despite the Minister of Aviation’s support. They accused the agency of prioritising executive retreats over training senior staff, stating that a fresh retreat is being planned even after recent retreats.
“These infractions are troubling and worrisome. After suspending an earlier strike in good faith, it is regrettable that management squandered our goodwill,” the unions said.
They gave NiMet until Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to implement all parts of the agreement or risk a resumption of the strike without further notice.
Some NiMet staff confirmed the complaints. One worker who spoke anonymously told The PUNCH that although the 25–35 per cent wage increase had been approved, it had not been paid.
Another employee said only 10 per cent of the 2019 minimum wage was paid to them since its implementation in 2022. “We got arrears for only 34 out of 43 months. Nine months are still outstanding,” the staff added.
Despite the Federal Government’s introduction of a ₦40,000 peculiar allowance and new minimum wage, NiMet staff said they are yet to benefit.
“Since Tinubu announced the wage increase, NiMet staff haven’t received anything. We are still in the dark,” one worker said.
The worker lamented that the Ministry of Budget claimed NiMet was not captured in the new wage plan, despite approval letters being issued. “They are using this to delay payments,” he said.
He added, “90 per cent of NiMet staff are on loans. Some can’t afford transport to work. That’s why we are crying out. We are civil servants, and we are suffering.”
Recall that in January, the unions had issued a 14-day ultimatum to NiMet management to meet workers’ welfare demands. They threatened to begin a strike on February 4, 2025, if the issues were not resolved.
