The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is bracing for an indefinite strike set to commence on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, following a protracted period of unresolved labor disputes. Three major aviation unions, the Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees, have jointly issued a strike notice, accusing NiMet management of repeatedly breaching a collective bargaining agreement and failing to address critical remuneration concerns. The unions’ letter, obtained by the PUNCH, highlights the “exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum” that has inflicted “extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship” on NiMet workers. This planned action follows months of unsuccessful negotiations and a broken partial agreement reached in January 2025, further escalating tensions between the workers and the agency’s leadership.
The core issue revolves around the significant disparity in pay between NiMet workers and their industry counterparts. The unions argue that despite their relentless efforts to address the issue, NiMet management has consistently failed to honor agreements and implement necessary adjustments to workers’ salaries and allowances. The January 28, 2025 agreement, intended to provide partial relief, has largely been disregarded, leaving the workers feeling betrayed and disillusioned. With the expiration of a previously issued ultimatum and the persistent hardship faced by their members, the unions feel compelled to resume the suspended strike action to pressure the management into addressing their demands.
The unions’ letter explicitly outlines the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the workers’ inability to cope with the prevailing financial hardships, particularly given the substantial pay gap compared to their peers in the aviation sector. The expiration of the ultimatum served as the final trigger, leaving the unions with no alternative but to resume the industrial action. The directive to withdraw all services indefinitely, effective midnight on April 22, 2025, underscores the seriousness of the unions’ intent. The call for nationwide mobilization of aviation workers to support the NiMet strike signifies a potential escalation of the labor dispute, threatening to disrupt aviation services across the country.
This impending strike is not an isolated incident. Earlier reports by The PUNCH revealed the aviation unions’ warning of a potential strike resumption due to NiMet’s failure to honor the January 28, 2025 collective bargaining agreement. The unions’ earlier letter detailed a range of unresolved issues, including unpaid wage awards, peculiar allowances, and outstanding payments from the 2019 minimum wage implementation. They also accused NiMet management of withholding crucial documents, ignoring requests to include omitted staff in previous payments, and prioritizing executive retreats over essential staff training programs. These accumulating grievances have fueled the workers’ frustration and solidified their resolve to pursue industrial action.
The unions’ characterization of the situation as “troubling and worrisome” reflects the eroded trust between the workers and NiMet management. The alleged squandering of goodwill further exacerbates the situation, indicating a breakdown in communication and a lack of commitment from the management to address the workers’ concerns. The previously issued ultimatum, which expired on April 16, 2025, served as a final warning, clearly outlining the consequences of inaction. The unions’ decision to proceed with the indefinite strike demonstrates their determination to secure a fair resolution to the long-standing dispute.
As of the latest report, NiMet management has not issued an official response to the impending strike. This silence further amplifies the uncertainty surrounding the situation and the potential impact on aviation services. The lack of communication from NiMet raises concerns about the agency’s preparedness to address the workers’ demands and avert the looming disruption. The absence of a concrete plan to resolve the dispute increases the likelihood of a prolonged strike, potentially impacting weather forecasting and other crucial services provided by NiMet, with broader implications for the aviation industry and the public.
