Succour AS FG Pays NiMet Staff Outstanding 45-Month Minimum Wage Arrears

Succour came the way of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) workers as the Federal Government paid the outstanding 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to the staff.

Non-payment of the arrears, which date back to 2019, has often led to unrest between the management staff of the agency and the labour unions.

The unions had in May planned to embark on industrial action on Monday. However, following an intervention by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and their Senate counterpart, the unions suspended the strike action after an agreement was reached on May 19, 2024, during a special session convened by the House Committee on Aviation Technology led by the Chairman, Abiodun Akinlade, with NiMet management and representatives of the unions present.

 The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for authorising the payment of the arrears.

“Mr. President has demonstrated once again that he is a worker-friendly president. The unpaid 45-month wage arrears predate this administration, but still, Mr. President has cleared the outstanding. I wish to thank the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo for the role he played. I also want to thank the House Committee on Aviation Technology Chairman, Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, and members of the Committee for their sacrifices and timely intervention.

“I wish to also thank the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari and the members of the Committee. I thank all the others who played different roles in the process. We expect that staff and the unions will show Mr. President appreciation by working hard and staying focused to ensure that NiMet continues to achieve its mandate”.

 NiMet workers through the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC) also expressed gratitude to  President Tinubu, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Aviation, and the DG/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike.

Secretary of NJAC, Okechukwu Nwokoro in a statement expressed his gratitude for the collective intervention in ensuring the payment of the outstanding minimum wage arrears owed to NiMet staff from 2019 to 2022.

He said, “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. We are fortunate to have a leader who places such high value on the welfare and morale of his team.”

“The resolution of this issue has not only eased the financial burden on NiMet staff but has also strengthened our resolve to continue delivering high-quality meteorological services to the nation. We are motivated and inspired by your collective efforts and pledge.”

Wole Shadare