Federal Government Settles 45-Month Wage Arrears for Meteorological Agency Employees
The Federal Government has finally settled the outstanding 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), ending a long-standing dispute that nearly escalated into a full-blown industrial action earlier this year.
In a statement issued on Monday, Okechukwu Nwokoro, Secretary of the NiMet Union Joint Action Committee, confirmed that the arrears, which had accumulated since 2019, have been fully paid. The protracted delay had caused significant tension between the NiMet management and its workforce, leading to frequent clashes with labour unions.
Earlier this year, the situation came to a head when the unions threatened to go on strike, setting May 20, 2024, as the date for industrial action. The strike was narrowly averted following an emergency intervention by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and its Senate counterpart. A special session convened on May 19, 2024, led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Abiodun Akinlade, brought together NiMet management and union representatives to hammer out an agreement.
The Director-General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, expressed his profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for authorising the payment of the arrears, despite the fact that the issue predated his administration.
“Mr President has demonstrated once again that he is a worker-friendly President. The issue of the unpaid 45-month wage arrears predates this administration, but still, Mr President has cleared the outstanding,” Anosike stated.
He also extended his thanks to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, as well as the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Abiodun Akinlade, and his Senate counterpart, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, for their pivotal roles in resolving the matter.
The NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee, representing the staff, also expressed their appreciation for the collective efforts that led to the payment. The unions acknowledged the government’s intervention, noting that it had greatly alleviated the financial burdens faced by the workforce and renewed their commitment to serving the nation with excellence.
“This significant action has greatly alleviated the financial challenges faced by our workforce and has renewed our hope and commitment to serving the nation with excellence,” the statement read.
The resolution of the wage arrears issue marks a significant milestone for NiMet, which can now focus on its critical mandate without the looming threat of industrial unrest.
