Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have ended their strike following the Federal Government’s intervention.
The strike, which disrupted flight operations across the country for two days, was called off after a meeting in Abuja with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
NiMET staff had downed tools in protest over poor working conditions, including the failure to implement the new national minimum wage, the exclusion of some staff from previous allowance payments, and the neglect of essential training programmes.
The meeting was also attended by the Director General of NiMET, representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Union of Transport Employees, and other major stakeholders, including:
- Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees
- Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals
- National Union of Air Transport Employees
The strike severely affected operations at key airports, including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, leaving passengers stranded and flights cancelled nationwide.
In response to the safety concerns, Air Peace halted all flights during the strike. The airline’s CEO, Allen Onyema, cited the absence of reliable weather data as a serious safety issue.
“Cancel every Air Peace flight now with immediate effect. People’s lives and safety come first,” Onyema said. “Look at the thunderstorms. NiMET is on strike, and we’re flying? Suspend all flights until the strike ends. Safety first.”
With the resolution reached, flight operations are expected to resume, restoring normalcy to Nigeria’s air travel schedule.