Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have commenced a nationwide indefinite strike over welfare issues.
Some of the issues include “NiMet’s refusal to negotiate or implement agreed financial allowances and unresolved entitlements”, including wage awards, peculiar allowances, and outstanding payments from the 2019 minimum wage.
They also accused the management of the agency of withholding important documents, ignoring requests for inclusion of omitted staff in past payments, and neglecting key training programmes in favour of executive retreats.
In a letter on Monday signed by the Union of Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees, the group accused NiMet of reneging on its promises.
“As you are all aware, our unions have strived strenuously over the past few years to alleviate the exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum that has visited extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship on NiMet workers,” the letter reads.
“These efforts have been largely without substantial results.”
The workers said NiMet’s refusal to meet the listed conditions has left them with little option.
They urged members to withdraw all services from the agency indefinitely with effect from April 22 until otherwise directed.
“You are equally aware that the agreement between the management and our unions since 28th January 2025 towards partial amelioration of the above-stated condition has been honored largely only in the breach,” the union added.
“In the light of management’s inability to address our given grave concerns, and being that we can no longer continue to cope with present hardships (given the huge disparity in remunerations with our peers), and especially as the ultimatum given to the Management has expired, we have no choice than to resume the suspended strike.”
On January 22, the union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the agency over unmet welfare concerns.
Following their strike threat, the agency appealed to the workers to postpone their planned strike action after an agreement was reached by both parties.
