Staff of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) have issued a 14-day ultimatum to embark on a nationwide strike over the failure of the management to attend to their lawful and reasonable demands.
The staff, under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services, and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, gave the warning in a letter
dated 21st January 2025, addressed to the Director General of NIMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, and obtained by The Guardian.
The letter, titled “Re: Failure to Respond to Lawful and Reasonable Demands 14-Day Ultimatum,” was signed by the General Secretary of AUPCTRE, Comrade Sikiru Wahee; NUATE’s Comrade Ocheme Abaj; and ANAP’s Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu.
The letter read: “We are highly concerned that your Management has inexplicably refused all entreaties from our Unions to address the extremely adverse circumstances of the workers of NiMet. Despite being evidently aware of the clear backward state of NiMet’s staff welfare status in the aviation industry, your Management remains unmoved and lethargic in addressing this obvious malady.
“Our Unions have severally, individually and jointly, sought to call your attention to these issues. But, these efforts, including ultimatum, have been totally rebuffed or ignored completely by you. This sad narrative, you must admit, stands your Management in a very poor state in industrial relations administration. And our Unions stand on good grounds to refuse to continue to be so treated.
“More importantly, the workers of the Agency do not deserve the suffering that the actions and inaction of your Management continue to mete out to them.”
The issues include non-implementation of the new minimum wage, non-payment of nine months’ arrears of consequential adjustment of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act, refusal to comply with ministerial directives for the review of conditions of service and non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the Agency since 2019.
Other issues listed are the non-payment of 40% peculiar allowance, non-payment of 25-35% wage award, non-payment of hardship allowance, failure to aid the process of transition from CONMETSS, refusal to meet with our Union over these issues, and other stated issues.
In light of the foregoing, the Union stated that they would commence industrial action against the Agency after fourteen (14) days from the date of the letter if the stated issues are not completely addressed.
They, therefore, directed all workers of NiMet to withdraw their services at the Agency with effect from 6 a.m. on Tuesday, 4th February 2025, unless otherwise directed.
(Guardian)
