NiMet Workers Call Off Strike After FG’s Intervention
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have called off their strike after a meeting with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
The strike, which lasted two days, had severely disrupted flight operations across the country, leaving passengers stranded at major airports including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
NiMET workers had downed tools in protest over poor working conditions, citing the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, exclusion of some staff from past allowances, and the neglect of critical training programs, among other grievances.
The emergency meeting that led to the resolution included key aviation stakeholders such as the Director General of NiMET, officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and representatives from various unions including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals.
During the strike, Air Peace suspended all flight operations nationwide due to safety concerns. The airline’s CEO, Allen Onyema, emphasized the risks of flying without up-to-date meteorological information.
“If NiMET has not called off the strike, cancel every Air Peace flight now with immediate effect,” Onyema directed on Wednesday. “People’s lives, the safety of our crew, and our equipment come first. Look at the thunderstorms everywhere—how can we fly blind?”
Normal flight operations are expected to resume following the resolution and suspension of the strike.
