Aviation Unions Suspend Strike: Averted Crisis After Key Meeting
Three prominent unions in the Nigerian aviation sector announced on Monday that they have decided to suspend the proposed strike, which was set to begin on February 4, 2025. This decision followed a productive meeting with the management of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), helping to avert disruptions that would have affected flight operations in the sector.
The unions involved in the suspension include 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).
During a press briefing, Comrade Benjamin Anthony, Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and President of AUPCTRE, alongside Comrade Ochenne Abu, General Secretary of NUATE, emphasized the urgent need for President Bola Tinubu and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo to intervene in addressing the unions’ demands to prevent further crises at NiMet, which could lead to a service shutdown with far-reaching consequences.
“The potential impact of a crisis at NiMet is immense,” the unions stated. “From aviation and maritime safety to food security, the loss of NiMet’s services would disrupt critical sectors of society. NiMet is an essential weather information provider for a wide range of industries, including aviation, maritime, and agriculture. The aviation industry, for instance, relies on NiMet’s weather data to operate safely and efficiently.”
The unions are calling for the swift resolution of several issues, including the immediate payment of outstanding federal government approvals to NiMet workers, such as the balance of 2019 minimum wage adjustments for the remaining 30 workers, and the implementation of a 25-35 percent wage award for NiMet staff. They also demand the approval and release of NiMet’s Scheme of Service and the expedited review of its Conditions of Service.
Looking at the longer-term solutions, the unions propose that the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) implement a more robust salary scale (CONMETSS) for NiMet employees, ensuring that salary enhancements across the aviation sector are applied uniformly. They also advocate for a salary parity between NiMet and other aviation agencies such as NAMA, NSIB, and FAAN.
The unions expressed concern that while agencies dependent on NiMet’s services continue to see salary increases, NiMet employees’ pay has stagnated. This inequality, they assert, is unacceptable and must be corrected immediately.
“Ultimately, our most critical demand is for NiMet to become self-sufficient and self-funded,” the unions concluded. “If our demands are met, it will end the ongoing struggles of NiMet staff and put an end to the frequent industrial crises within the agency.”
The unions warned that without addressing these issues, the risk of a full NiMet service shutdown looms large, threatening not only aviation safety but also national food security and maritime operations.
