In a significant development impacting the Nigeria Meteorology Agency (NiMET), it faces an impending strike that threatens to disrupt operations, as staff members gear up to halt work starting Monday, May 20, 2024. The decision to strike stems from unresolved salary disputes, including 45 months’ worth of minimum wage arrears, and management’s failure to address employee concerns.
A joint effort by various aviation unions, representing NiMET employees, has prompted this action. The unions, comprising notable bodies such as the National Union of Air Transport Employee Association of Nigeria and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, have voiced their discontent over prolonged delays in wage adjustments and unresolved financial issues.
The deadlock intensified after management’s proposal to settle the arrears in installments failed to meet union expectations. Additionally, grievances include the absence of palliative payments from the Federal Government since October 2023, the non-implementation of promised salary increases ranging from 25 to 35 per cent, and NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar Allowances.
Furthermore, the unions’ previous plea for a review of outdated conditions of service, communicated in a joint letter dated April 4, 2024, went unanswered by NiMET’s management, exacerbating tensions within the workforce.
In a final ultimatum, the unions have demanded the full settlement of the outstanding 42 months’ arrears of consequential adjustment. Unless management meets these demands, NiMET staff members will cease work indefinitely from the specified date.
The repercussions of the impending strike raise concerns about potential disruptions to essential services provided by NiMET, including weather forecasting and aviation safety measures. We remain uncertain about how negotiations between the unions and management will unfold in the coming days.
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