Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike, citing longstanding welfare grievances and unresolved financial issues.
Central to the dispute are allegations of “NiMet’s refusal to negotiate or implement agreed financial allowances and unresolved entitlements,” which include wage awards, peculiar allowances, and unpaid balances linked to the 2019 minimum wage.
Workers also claim that the agency’s management has been withholding critical documents, failed to address requests to include previously omitted staff in past payments, and prioritized executive retreats over vital staff training programs.
In a letter issued Monday and signed by 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, the unions accused NiMet of failing to fulfill its commitments.
“As you are all aware, our unions have strived strenuously over the past few years to alleviate the exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum that has visited extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship on NiMet workers,” the letter reads.
“These efforts have been largely without substantial results.”
With management allegedly ignoring the union’s demands, workers said they had no option but to begin an indefinite strike effective April 22.
“You are equally aware that the agreement between the management and our unions since 28th January 2025 towards partial amelioration of the above-stated condition has been honored largely only in the breach,” the union added.
“In the light of management’s inability to address our given grave concerns, and being that we can no longer continue to cope with present hardships (given the huge disparity in remunerations with our peers), and especially as the ultimatum given to the Management has expired, we have no choice than to resume the suspended strike.”
The union had initially issued a 14-day ultimatum to NiMet on January 22 over these unmet welfare demands. Following the strike threat, an agreement was reached and the agency had appealed for a delay in the action but the unions now say those promises were never fulfilled.
Impact Of NIMET Strike
Aviation Safety and Scheduling Disruptions
NiMet plays a key role in providing real-time weather forecasts and safety advisories for both local and international flights. The strike has already disrupted flight scheduling, causing delays and cancellations.
With the start of the strike, Nimet would be unable to provide Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF), meteorological trend forecast, meteorological and climate information data collected across 56 synoptic stations and meteorological information not disseminated according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommended practises, among others.
Increased safety risks for pilots who rely on up-to-date meteorological data for takeoff, landing, and in-flight navigation.
However, speaking on the development, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, emphasised that it was the standard operational procedure for airlines to get weather reports for aircraft to either land or take off. He, however, could not confirm if there would be flight operations on Wednesday or not.
“It is a standard operational procedure that if there is no weather report, there is no way an aircraft can either land at an airport or take off, but I cannot confirm if there will be flight operations tomorrow or not; I can not answer that question”, he stated.
Air transport passengers at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed Airport are already jittery about what their fate will be in the coming days.
“My flight is billed for tomorrow (Wednesday); the government intervene to avert a likely disruption,” Ireti Idowu stated.
Another passenger, Isaiah Manuel, billed for a trip from Abuja to Lagos State, also expressed fears of a possible disruption to the flight.
Agricultural Setbacks
Farmers depend heavily on NiMet’s seasonal weather predictions for planning planting and harvesting cycles. The strike could lead to misinformed agricultural decisions, affecting food production.
Reduced crop yields, especially as Nigeria enters a critical planting season.
Disaster Preparedness Challenges
NiMet provides early warning systems for floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. With services halted communities are left vulnerable to natural disasters.
Government agencies may be caught off guard without timely data to coordinate emergency responses.
Economic Losses
Airlines, farmers, and logistics companies could face losses running into millions of naira due to lack of planning data.
The wider economy may also suffer as weather-sensitive industries experience interruptions.
Public Safety and Health Concerns
Weather updates are crucial for public safety, especially in areas prone to heavy rainfall or heatwaves. The absence of accurate forecasts can lead to increased health risks such as heatstroke or flood-related diseases.
Travel hazards, especially in rural and flood-prone areas.
Why The Strike
LN247 spoke with a NIMET officer on the reasons for the NIMET indefinite strike and he said;
“Actually, the issue has been there for long. It has been a lingering issue, and we have written a letter to our management, and we have signed an agreement, and nothing has been done”
“If you remember when President Buhari approved thirty five thousand naira minimum wage for staff, as I was speaking to you, NIMET has not been paid. And even 2019 minimum wage, let me surprise you, even 2019, minimum wage, they are still owing federal government arrears. So, those are the demands. Currently the 2024 minimum wage has not been implemented in our agency”, he concluded.
