The Federal Government through the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has paid the outstanding 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to its staff. The long-awaited payment, which dates back to 2019, has resolved a major point of contention between NiMet management, staff, and labor unions.
The non-payment of these arrears had been a persistent issue, leading to tensions between NiMet’s management and its employees. In May 2024, the situation escalated as labor unions threatened to strike, with plans set for Monday, May 20, 2024.
However, a last-minute intervention by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and their counterparts in the Senate prevented the strike. A special session, held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, and led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, successfully mediated an agreement between NiMet management and union representatives.
Professor Charles Anosike, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for authorizing the payment of the arrears.
“Mr. President has once again proven himself to be a worker-friendly leader. Despite the fact that the issue of the unpaid wages predates this administration, he has ensured that the outstanding payments are settled,” Anosike stated.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, as well as the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology and members of the Senate Committee on Aviation for their roles in resolving the issue.
The NiMet staff, represented by the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC), also expressed their thanks.
In a statement dated August 12, 2024, Comrade Okechukwu Nwokoro, Secretary of NJAC and Branch President of SSASCGOC, praised the collective effort that led to the payment.
“This significant action has greatly alleviated the financial challenges faced by our workforce and has renewed our hope and commitment to serving the nation with excellence,” the statement read.
The unions also extended their appreciation to President Tinubu, Minister Keyamo, the House of Representatives, Senate Committees on Aviation, and NiMet’s Director General, Professor Anosike.
They praised Anosike for his leadership and advocacy, noting that his relentless efforts had been crucial in resolving the wage arrears issue.
“Your commitment to the welfare of NiMet staff has eased our financial burden and strengthened our resolve to continue providing high-quality meteorological services to the nation,” the statement said.
The unions had suspended a planned strike following successful negotiations facilitated by the House of Representatives.
The strike, which was set to commence on Monday, May 20, 2024, was primarily driven by unresolved issues surrounding unpaid wage arrears and allowances.
The aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), had threatened industrial action due to NiMET’s failure to address a 45-month backlog of minimum wage adjustments and other financial benefits.
In a letter dated May 14, 2024, the unions expressed their frustration over NiMET’s neglect of its financial obligations, describing the situation as a dire economic hardship for the agency’s staff.
Previously, the unions had issued a 14-day ultimatum to NiMET’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, demanding prompt resolution of these issues. The unions criticized NiMET’s response, which proposed settling the arrears in installments, as insufficient. They also highlighted delays in government-sanctioned palliative payments and non-implementation of promised salary increases.
In response to these grievances, the House of Representatives intervened, convening a nine-hour meeting involving lawmakers, union leaders, and NiMET management. The resolution included the establishment of a committee to review the conditions of service and ensure the payment of the 45 months’ outstanding wage arrears.
