The Federal Government has disbursed the outstanding 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), according to a statement released on Monday by Okechukwu Nwokoro, Secretary of the NiMet Union Joint Action Committee.
The arrears, which had been pending since 2019, had been a major point of contention between NiMet management and its staff, leading to frequent clashes with labor unions. Earlier this year, the situation nearly escalated into a strike, as unions had planned to down tools on May 20, 2024. However, the strike was averted at the eleventh hour following the intervention of the House Committee on Aviation Technology and their Senate counterpart.
An agreement to resolve the issue was reached on May 19, 2024, during a special session convened by the House Committee on Aviation Technology, chaired by Abiodun Akinlade. The meeting, attended by NiMet management and union representatives, successfully brokered a deal to pay the overdue arrears.
NiMet’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for authorizing the payment. “Mr. President has once again demonstrated his commitment to workers. Despite the arrears predating this administration, he has ensured that the outstanding payments were made,” Anosike stated.
He also extended his thanks to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, as well as Abiodun Akinlade, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, for their critical roles in resolving the issue.
Anosike urged NiMet staff and unions to show their appreciation by remaining dedicated to their work and ensuring that the agency continues to fulfill its mandate.
The NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee also expressed their appreciation to President Tinubu, Minister Keyamo, and other government officials involved in securing the payment of the arrears. The unions acknowledged that this significant action has alleviated the financial burdens faced by NiMet employees and has renewed their commitment to serving the nation with excellence.
