Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has met with protesting staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in a bid to resolve the ongoing strike that has disrupted flight operations nationwide.
The meeting, held in Abuja, comes as NiMET workers protest poor working conditions, including the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, exclusion of some staff from past allowance payments, and the neglect of critical training programs.
Present at the meeting were the Director General of NiMET, officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), representatives from the National Union of Transport Employees, and other aviation stakeholders. The session began with a brief opening before transitioning into a closed-door dialogue aimed at finding a lasting resolution.
Also in attendance were members of several key unions, including the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees.
The NiMET strike, which began two days ago, has had a significant impact on aviation operations. Local airports have experienced major disruptions, with airlines forced to ground flights due to the lack of critical weather information.
Reacting to the crisis, Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, ordered the immediate suspension of all flights nationwide, citing safety concerns. In a viral video, Onyema said:
“If NiMET has not called off the strike, cancel every Air Peace flight now with immediate effect. People’s lives and the safety of our equipment and our crew are foremost. I don’t care if other airlines are flying… Suspend all flights with immediate effect until that strike is over. Safety first.”
As of the time of this report, the meeting is ongoing, with hopes high that the dialogue will yield a resolution and restore normalcy to Nigeria’s airspace.
