Aviation workers to resume strike over agreement breaches

Three major aviation unions have issued a stern warning to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, threatening to resume a previously suspended strike over the agency’s alleged failure to keep to their bargaining agreement signed earlier this year.

In a letter jointly signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees, the unions expressed deep disappointment in NiMet’s management, accusing it of breaching the terms of an agreement reached on January 28, 2025.

“We are highly disheartened to note that the management has reneged on its promises to the workers vide the agreement it signed with our uunionson 28th January 2025,” read the letter exclusively obtained by our correspondent.

At the heart of the unions’ grievances is what they describe as the management’s failure to fulfil its commitment to negotiate and implement an allowance before the end of February 2025.

“One and a half months later, the management refused to negotiate, let alone implement, such an allowance. And no possible explanations have been forthcoming from the management over the matter,” they stated.

The unions also itemised several unresolved issues from the January agreement, including the suspected withholding of the negotiated conditions of service document, which has reportedly been sent to the ministry but not shared with union signatories.

“We have reason to suspect foul play as the management despite persistent requests, has refused to release copies of the document due to our unions signatories to the same document,” the letter further read.

The unions also raised concerns over the lack of feedback on several key financial entitlements agreed upon, including the 25–35 per cent wage increase, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, the nine months’ outstanding balance of the 2019 minimum wage, and the inclusion of 30 names that were previously omitted from the 2019 minimum wage payment list.

The unions also accused management of stalling on the “extremely important and urgent issue of salary relativity, which was reinforced by the support of the minister and expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s prioritisation of executive retreats over training commitments for senior staff. “Instead of continuing with GL10-14, we are unhappy that management is rather scheduling another retreat, even as it has just returned from a post-budget retreat and having had a management retreat late last year.”

Describing the situation as “troubling and worrisome”, the unions criticised NiMet’s leadership for “squandering our goodwill” after unions had earlier suspended a planned strike in hopes of a peaceful resolution.

“These stated fragrant infractions on a duly signed collective bargaining agreement are indeed troubling and worrisome. And considering the huge effort and sacrifice invested by our unions averting an industrial crisis through the suspension of the previously scheduled strike, it is a matter of serious regret that the management has so squandered our goodwill.

“In light of the foregoing, the management is hereby given till Wednesday, April, 6, 2025, to implement all aspects of the agreement, failing which our unions shall resume the suspended strike without further notice.”

One of the NiMet staff confirmed that a key component of the workers’ demands, the 25–35 per cent wage increase, has yet to be paid, although it has reportedly been approved.

Speaking to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, the staff said, “I can confirm the 25–35 per cent hasn’t been paid, but it has been approved, and I think we will be expecting it in April or May. Yes, it has not been paid.”

Another NiMet employee laid bare the financial hardship endured by workers since the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage.

“The challenge we have is that since the 2019 minimum wage, we couldn’t get it. We got only 10 per cent of that. So, they never paid us anything since 2022 when they implemented it,” the staff revealed.

The worker added that partial arrears were eventually paid on August 10, 2024, covering only 34 months out of the total 43 months owed. “Arrears now came in on August 10, 2024. But it came only for 34 months, remaining nine months. The government refused to answer our call.”

“Imagine you are one of them. They paid the rest, and you didn’t get it until today. That pain is on the ground.”

Despite the Federal Government announcing an N40,000 peculiar allowance for all civil servants, NiMet staff claim they’ve received none.

“Now, the government increased the 40,000 peculiar allowance for all civil servants. Here, we haven’t experienced it,” the source said.

The new minimum wage recently approved by the Federal Government also remains in limbo for NiMet employees. “Now, with this present minimum wage that the government increased, we are yet to know our fate. Yes, we saw the approved document and the template, but we don’t even know when they will be implemented,” the source lamented.

Drawing attention to the daily realities of workers, the staff added, “Our children are going to school the same way other people’s children are going. House rent too—you know what it means. That’s why we are calling on the government authority and well-meaning Nigerians to alleviate the pain. Because we are dying, and we are civil servants working for the progress of this nation.”

Another employee recounted the timeline of grievances, linking the crisis to the 2019 wage implementation. “I said the history of all these started with the 2019 minimum wage. When they implemented it, NiMet couldn’t get anything. The salary of NiMet staff for a particular level was N74,000 until 2023. We started agitating before the then minister of labour came and then later approved 10 per cent to all aviation industry, including NiMet.”

But the struggles continued under the current administration. “When Tinubu came, they introduced a 25–35 per cent wage increase. They have not paid NiMet staff till today.”

On the N35,000 wage support announced by the government, the staff said, “That N35,000 they are talking about, they paid NiMet only till February last year, and they stopped. But they paid other ministries.”

The employee stressed the urgent need for intervention, saying, “So, what we are asking the government is to improve the welfare of NiMet staff members. They are suffering.”

Despite reports of approval for the new minimum wage, there’s growing scepticism among staff. “They said they have approved NiMet’s own, but NiMet staff members are not sure that they will implement it this year. They said they went to budget and budget told them that they are not captured in the budget. So, if they are not captured in the budget, why did they approve the letter? They are using it to delay,” queried one of the aggrieved staff members.

“90 per cent of NiMet staff are on loan. If you come to the office, you won’t see people because of transport money to come to work. That is why we are agitating,”, he added.

Recall that in January, workers under the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the agency’s management to address longstanding welfare concerns or face a nationwide industrial action.

The unions stated this in a letter titled ‘Failure to respond to lawful and reasonable demands—14 days ultimatum’.

The letter stressed that all NiMet workers were instructed to withdraw their services starting from 6 a.m. on February 4, 2025, should the issues remain unaddressed.

“In light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the unions as named above shall be moved to commence industrial action against the agency after fourteen days from the date of the stated issues are not completely ameliorated.

“Therefore, all workers of NiMet by a copy of this letter are hereby directed to withdraw all services at the agency with effect from 6am on Tuesday 4 February 2025 unless otherwise.”