Operations at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) face severe disruption as its workers, under the umbrella of three prominent unions, commenced an indefinite nationwide strike today, April 22, 2025. The industrial action stems from alleged repeated breaches of a collective bargaining agreement and the non-fulfillment of long-standing demands regarding workers’ remuneration by the agency’s management.
The Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) jointly announced the commencement of the strike in a strongly worded letter addressed to their members. The unions accused NiMet management of consistently failing to honor agreements aimed at resolving the “exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum” that has, according to them, subjected NiMet workers to “extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship.”
“As you are all aware, our unions have strived strenuously over the past few years to alleviate the exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum that has visited extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship on NiMet workers. These efforts have been largely without substantial results,” the letter stated, highlighting the prolonged nature of the dispute.
The unions further expressed profound disappointment over the management’s alleged failure to fully implement a partial agreement reached on January 28, 2025, which was intended to offer some relief to the agitating workers. “You are equally aware that the agreement between the management and our unions since 28th January 2025 towards partial amelioration of the above-stated condition has been honored largely only in the breach,” the letter conveyed.
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Driven to what they describe as an untenable situation due to the significant disparity in their remunerations compared to their counterparts in other agencies and the expiration of a previously issued ultimatum, the NiMet workers declared that they have been left with no alternative but to resume the suspended strike. “In the light of management’s inability to address our given grave concerns, and being that we can no longer continue to cope with present hardships (given the huge disparity in remunerations with our peers), and especially as the ultimatum given to the Management has expired, we have no choice than to resume the suspended strike,” the unions asserted.
This industrial action is poised to have significant ramifications across various sectors that rely on NiMet’s crucial weather forecasting services, including aviation, agriculture, maritime, and disaster management. The disruption could lead to flight delays and cancellations, impact agricultural planning, and hinder timely warnings for severe weather events, potentially affecting the safety and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.
Efforts to reach NiMet management for a response to the allegations and the strike action were ongoing at the time of this report. The unions have not indicated the duration of the indefinite strike, leaving the nation bracing for potential long-term disruptions. This development underscores the persistent challenges within Nigeria’s public sector concerning fair remuneration and the adherence to collective bargaining agreements. The situation will undoubtedly be closely monitored by stakeholders and the general public, who rely on accurate and timely weather information for their daily activities and safety.
