Flight operations will now resume fully at the nation’s airports as workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have called off their strike action after the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Thursday.
LEADERSHIP reports that NiMet staff had commenced an indefinite strike over poor salary packages and welfare.
Speaking to journalists, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, said that the NiMET unions suspended the strike after intervention by the minister.
He hinted that the workers suspended the strike until May 13, 2025, pending the outcome of the minister’s intervention on the issues raised.
At the meeting with the minister were the leaderships of the unions – the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
Speaking after the meeting, the general secretary of NUATE, Comrade Aba Ocheme,
said that the unions resolved to suspend the ongoing strike till May 13, 2025, in recognition of the Minister’s sincere intervention.
He explained that the unions awaited the progress of the actions the minister had committed to take.
Also, National President of ANAP, Comrade Alale Adedayo, said that as a mark of respect for the minister, the unions had decided to “temporarily call off the strike” while the process of resolution was ongoing.
The unions had downed tools over several unresolved grievances relating to poor working conditions, including salary relativity with other aviation agencies, non-implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment to the national minimum wage (affecting at least 30 omitted staff), demands for a 25 – 35 per cent salary increase, 40 per cent hardship/peculiar allowances, annual staff training, among others.
In his response, Keyamo expressed empathy with the affected workers and pledged his commitment to finding lasting solutions to their concerns.
As part of immediate steps, Keyamo said that he would personally intervene through formal communications to both Pesident Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Finance, aimed at fast-tracking the resolution of pressing financial concerns.
He also promised to establish a ministerial committee, which would be headed by Dr Ibrahim Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, to interface with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to clarify issues surrounding subsistence allowances and related matters.
The minister further reiterated the importance of industrial harmony in the aviation sector and commended the union leaders for their maturity, patriotism, and willingness to dialogue in the national interest.
In his comment, Kana assured all stakeholders that tangible progress would be made before the May 13 deadline and called for continued cooperation as the ministry works to ensure improved welfare and working conditions for NIiET staff and all aviation personnel.
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