NiMet unions suspend strike as body of representatives mediates – Blueprint Newspapers Limited

Unions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have suspended their planned strike following the successful intervention of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation and Technology.

The unions had previously planned the strike to begin on Monday, May 20, 2024.

Following an agreement and resolution reached on Sunday, May 19, 2024, during a special session convened by the Committee on Aviation and Technology of the House of Representatives, which held until Monday evening, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade Ishaq gave announced that the strike had been suspended.

At the end of the meeting, which lasted about nine hours, he read out the communiqué suspending the planned strike, adding that within four weeks the issues raised by the NiMet unions would be resolved and their outstanding areas would be paid.

“Today, May 19, 2024, the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology met with the union and management team of the Nigerian Metrological Agency, Abuja, led by its Director General, Professor Charles Anosike, to discuss the proposed industrial strike by NiMET employees about the government’s failure to pay 45 monthly ranges of the minimum wage and make resulting adjustments.

“After more than eight hours of meeting, deliberation and discussion, the following resolutions were passed: That NiMET will set up a committee to review the conditions of service of NiMET employees by tomorrow, Monday 20th. This committee will consist of two members of the union.

“Secondly, that the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology will establish a subcommittee chaired by the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Technology, to work with the Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office, IPPIS and other relevant authorities to ensure timely payment of the Areas of NiMeT staff.

“Third, that the pay scales of NiMeT employees be reviewed by the National Income Salary and Wages Commission.

“That this matter be resolved within four weeks of this meeting by paying the outstanding areas to the NiMET employees. NiMeT staff should temporarily suspend planned strike actions until the areas are paid for within four weeks, and that the union has agreed to cooperate in carrying out its daily activities in accordance with NiMeT’s General Directorate and management.

“That this committee thanks the management of NiMeT for all the efforts they have made to ensure that the welfare of NiMeT employees is safeguarded.”

“This committee appreciates the efforts of the various unions who participated in this meeting for over 9 hours. So we thank you all, God bless you,” he said.

In his response, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Sikiru Waheed, who spoke at the meeting on behalf of other unions such as ANAP, NUATE and SSASGOG, thanked the committee for its intervention.

He said: “Nobody has any interest in disturbing the peace in the workplace if the right things are done.” This problem has been going on for about four years. And to be honest, Nimet employees were some of the most patient among Nigerian workers.

“The union wants better working conditions. Our state of service is outdated and outdated. For this reason, the union wants a committee to be set up immediately to discuss the issues of working conditions of NiMET workers,” he explained.

The Director General of NiMeT, Professor Charles Anosike, commended the committee chairman and members for preventing the planned strike. He said the management is doing its best to ensure the pay of the outstanding areas of NiMET staff, adding that the importance of the workforce cannot be overemphasized.