Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have embarked on an indefinite strike, which has effectively suspended all meteorological services nationwide.
The industrial action, which commenced at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, saw NiMet staff and union members holding placards and marching around the airport premises in protest. Reports indicate that some workers stayed overnight at the agency’s premises to enforce a complete shutdown of operations.
“The situation is bad for us here in NiMet. In terms of our welfare, the salary package and other benefits are very low compared to those of our sister agency. You can see a management staff member in NiMet collecting ₦470,000, while someone in the sister agency earns about ₦1.2 million.” One of the workers lamented.
“Any increment the government is making, we are not getting it. We provide more sensitive services than even our sister agency, but our welfare package is so poor that it cannot cover transportation, rent, or even our children’s school fees.
Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Paul Ogohi, condemned the conduct of some domestic airlines, while also highlighting the toll the current system is taking on NiMet staff.
“Other international airlines have parked and are keeping strictly to the regulations of ICAO. British Airways has complied, and Qatar Airways has also suspended operations. But the problem we are facing is with Nigerian airlines and their pilots. These rules are intended to govern aviation operations, but it is we, the locals, who are often the ones violating these standards. It’s not right.
“We should discourage it and condemn it entirely. It’s unacceptable. This kind of thing only happens in Nigeria. You can see that unprecedented deaths are occurring in NiMet, as if we are chickens. Nearly 70 per cent of our staff forecasters have high blood pressure.” Ogohi said
In response, Michael Achimugu, Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, stated that safety remains paramount and that a meeting with the unions is forthcoming.
“The NCAA is going into a meeting with the unions soon. However, NAMA is currently providing auxiliary services. You should know that in aviation, safety comes first. So, if there is any threat to operations at this moment, nobody will be allowed to fly.” he said.
