NiMet Staff Finally Receive Minimum Wage and Salary Increases

Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have finally begun receiving the new minimum wage and adjusted salaries, marking significant progress after months of industrial action and negotiation.

The long-awaited payments were made in May 2025, following intervention from key authorities and persistent pressure from aviation unions.

An official from the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) confirmed the salary implementation, noting that arrears will be paid by the end of July due to technical delays.

“It was the minister that called DG personally; after the meeting, they called DG and told them to go to the Accountant General’s office, do whatever they need to do, and make sure that our money comes this May,” the official revealed.

“Fortunately for us, it happened like that; that was the implementation.”

According to the source, the subsistence allowance was the first to be paid, followed by the full rollout of the N70,000 minimum wage and the 25–35% salary increment.

“The subsistence allowance was the first payment we got, and after that subsistence allowance, we then got the implementation of the new minimum wage,” the official explained.

“It was 25–35 per cent increments then N70,000 minimum wage. They calculated it. All the levels vary. The lower the levels, the higher the percentage. Then the higher the level, the lower the percentage.
Each level got their own percentage. Some levels got 33%. It depends on the level. But it’s only the junior that benefited more than the senior staff.”

The official also clarified that arrears initially scheduled for June would now be delayed to July due to a system upgrade at IPPIS.

“The N70,000 minimum wage and the 25–35 per cent salary increment were what were implemented in the month of May, and the arrears were supposed to come this June ending. But unfortunately, I think IPPIS is having a system upgrade. So I think the arrears will be coming in by the end of July.”

Further improvements in workers’ conditions are also in motion. A new Condition of Service document has been signed by the Director-General and forwarded to the Minister of Aviation for approval.

“So the condition of service is already done; the DG has signed and given it to the Minister, so the Minister will be the one to take it to the Salary Wages Commission for approval.”

The unions are keeping track of unresolved issues and have urged management to act quickly.

“So, we just noted all the items that have not been resolved yet and told the Director-General to take note and start going to the relevant authorities to make sure that the things we are requesting are being done, for example, the implementation of a new minimum wage.”

“Most of our requests gradually are being answered. I don’t know what you need to know in particular,” the official added.

This progress follows a nationwide strike by NiMet staff in May 2024 over unpaid wage arrears and poor working conditions.
At the time, unions such as NUATE, AUPCTRE, and ANAP issued a 14-day ultimatum, demanding payment of 45 months’ arrears dating back to 2019.

The ultimatum also cited poor working conditions, unresolved staff welfare concerns, and non-implementation of approved financial benefits as key issues.

After several failed promises and meetings, the recent developments mark a turning point in efforts to address long-standing grievances among NiMet employees.