Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have suspended their strike after the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The industrial action, sparked by grievances over poor working conditions, salary discrepancies with other aviation agencies, unimplemented 2019 national minimum wage adjustments, and demands for higher pay and benefits, had caused significant disruption to aviation operations. Keyamo convened a meeting with union leaders, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), to resolve the issue.
As a result of the meeting, the unions agreed to suspend the strike until May 13, 2025, while awaiting the outcomes of Keyamo’s promised actions. A statement from Tunde Moshood, Keyamo’s spokesman, confirmed the suspension. Comrade Aba Ocheme, National Secretary of NUATE, stated, “We have resolved to suspend the ongoing strike till May 13, 2025, in recognition of the Honourable Minister’s timely and sincere intervention.”
Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, also expressed support for the suspension, saying, “As a mark of respect for the Honourable Minister’s intervention and assurance, we have decided to temporarily call off the strike.”
Minister Keyamo acknowledged the workers’ concerns and assured them of a comprehensive resolution process. Keyamo announced that formal communications would be sent to both the President and the Minister of Finance to address financial matters, alongside the formation of a Ministerial Committee to address subsistence allowances and related issues with the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The strike had partially affected flight operations, with Air Peace suspending flights until the strike was resolved. With the suspension now in place, normal flight operations are expected to resume immediately.