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.”