Aviation unions have introduced a pending strike on the Nigeria Meteorology Company (NiMET), set to begin on Monday, Might 20, 2024.
This motion follows unresolved disputes regarding unpaid wage arrears and allowances.
The strike, as directed by the Nationwide Union of Air Transport Workers, the Affiliation of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Companies, Civil Service Technical and Leisure Companies Workers, centres on the failure to implement a 45-month backlog of minimal wage changes and different monetary advantages.
In a letter obtained by our correspondent, dated Might 14, 2024, the unions expressed deep frustration over NiMET administration’s neglect of its monetary obligations to employees.
“The above catalogue of woes, and others unmentioned, affirm that NiMET Workers have been consigned to the bin of abject poverty—worse than any present aviation institution,” the unions’ representatives Ocheme Aba, Abdulrasaq Seidu, and Waheed Sikiru collectively acknowledged.
The unions had beforehand issued a 14-day ultimatum to NiMET’s Director Normal, Prof. Charles Anoske, urging speedy motion to rectify these points.
The unions nevertheless discovered administration’s response, proposing to settle the arrears in installments to be inadequate.
Moreover, the unions highlighted ongoing delays within the disbursement of government-sanctioned palliative funds since October 2023, in addition to the non-implementation of promised wage will increase of 25-35%.
“It’s inhuman on the a part of administration to be forborne with these circumstances and irresponsible on the a part of unions to tolerate this example for this lengthy,” the letter learn.
The letter additionally criticised NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar
Allowances and referred to as for an pressing assessment of outdated circumstances of service.
“Administration commences assessment of the outdated CoS with our Unions with a particular timeline for supply and actualisation,” the union leaders demanded.