NiMet Seeks Negotiations With Labour Unions

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has invited three labour unions in the aviation sector, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), to another round of discussions to sort out lingering concerns and prevent the breakdown of industrial harmony.

NiMet made the invite in a formal response to the unions, urging them to shelve the planned resumption of industrial action.

It would be recalled that in a letter dated April 10, 2025, the unions had accused NiMet’s management of failing to implement critical components of the January 28, 2025 agreement.

However, NiMet refuted the unions’ claims through its director of Human Resource Management & Administration, Dr. Nasiru Sani, describing them as “unfair” and “demeaning.”

During the January 28 agreement, Sani said NiMet management maintained that while the union’s concerns are valid, many issues required inter-agency cooperation.

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He said, “NiMet has engaged relevant government agencies and is awaiting responses or approvals on several matters.

“On conditions of service, NiMet expressed dismay over what it termed the union’s ‘unbelief attitude’ regarding the integrity of the negotiated Conditions of Service. The agency affirmed that it had forwarded the documents to the ministry and even enhanced the terms by including additional allowances.

“On the 25–35 per cent wage award, the balance of the 2019 minimum wage, and omission of 30 staff from that payment, NiMet confirmed that all necessary approvals have been obtained. However, the agency awaits fund release, which lies outside its jurisdiction.”

Sani added that in the salary relativity dispute, the union’s reference to a directive to adopt the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) salary structure was said to be unsupported by any verifiable document.