End in sight as Minister meets striking unions, says, “We will resolve NiMet strike today”

• Minister, unions in close door parley

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus is presently meeting all the unions comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) with a view to prevailing on the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to suspend its on-going strike action.

The NiMet workers’ strike that started on Wednesday  impacted flight operations nationwide with Nigeria’s biggest airline, Air Peace suspending all its flight operations.

Air Peace hinged its decision to suspend operations country-wide to NiMet’s industrial action which it stated has disrupted the transmission of critical weather reports, particularly the QNH, which are essential for safe flight operations, especially during landing procedures.

Air Peace emphasized that pilots cannot land in any airport without receiving the QNH report from the control tower, which is generated by NiMet, stressing that given the current season marked by frequent rainfall, thunderstorms, and unpredictable weather patterns, the airline expressed grave concern over the risks of operating flights without these mandatory safety updates.

While Air Peace has suspended its operations, other carriers are still operating, monitoring the situation for further action.

The Minister had called on the unions to the meeting as it looks for a solution to an issue that has seriously overwhelmed the NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike. He appears helpless in finding a lasting solution to the industrial crisis, necessitating the Minister to wade in to agree on certain conditions with the striking unionists.

The Minister while giving journalists an overview of the meeting, assured Nigerians that the strike would be called off.

He jokingly called Anosike, “Instigator of the crisis when he introduced himself to the minister’s conference packed full of journalist and other top officials of the Ministry.

Others in attendance are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Kana, Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo and other top officials of the meteorological agency.

The Minister and the unions commenced the close door meeting as journalists were asked to leave the conference room for a press briefing in few hours after the crucial meeting.

Details shortly….

Wole Shadare