NiMet Workers To Ground Flights July 1 Over Unpaid Remittances

Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have threatened to ground flight operations nationwide from July 1, 2026, over alleged unpaid remittances by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The workers, under the umbrella of the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC), said aviation activities could be paralysed if NAMA fails to comply with a directive by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on the remittance of 10 per cent of en-route and over-flying charges due to NiMet.

In a letter dated June 26, 2026, and obtained by The Guardian, the unions accused NAMA management of disregarding the minister’s directive to settle the outstanding remittances.

The letter, referenced JAC/015/AUPCTRE/ANAP/SSASCGOC, was signed by the secretaries of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Hishaq Ibrahim, Okerafor Romeo and Ogidi John, respectively.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Director-General of NiMet.

According to the unions, the minister had earlier intervened in the dispute and directed NAMA to remit the outstanding amount within 48 hours to find a lasting solution to the lingering issue.

However, the unions lamented that despite the ministerial intervention, NAMA had yet to comply with the directive.

They alleged that the failure to remit the funds had adversely affected operational activities at NiMet as well as the welfare of its workers.

The unions further disclosed that during their meeting held on June 15, 2026, members resolved to notify the minister of NAMA’s alleged non-compliance and issue a one-week ultimatum, after which workers would embark on a nationwide industrial action.

The letter stated: “In view of the above resolution, the NJAC in a session hereby inform all our members of the planned protest scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 1st July, 2026 at all NiMet offices nationwide.”

The planned protest, if carried out, is expected to significantly disrupt flight operations at airports nationwide, as meteorological services are critical to safe air navigation and aircraft operations.