On Wednesday, Nigerian Meteorological Agency employees began an indefinite strike, which resulted in the suspension of all weather services across the country.
The strike formally started at 7:00 a.m., according to our correspondent, with union members and NiMet employees carrying signs as they moved through the airport grounds. It was learned that in order to guarantee a complete shutdown of activities, several employees even spent the night on the agency’s property.
“The situation is bad for us here in NiMet,” one employee bemoaned. Compared to our sister organization, the pay package and other benefits are extremely inadequate for our welfare. A managerial employee at NiMet makes ₦470,000, whilst a worker at the sibling agency makes almost ₦1.2 million.
“We are not receiving any raises that the federal government makes. Even though we offer more considerate services than our sister organization, our welfare package is so inadequate that it cannot pay for our children’s tuition, rent, or even transportation.
“The working conditions are excessively subpar. We must receive the same level of care as our sister agency. Just a decent state of service that would at least make life comfortable so we can focus on our work is all we’re asking for.
For all industries, we offer services like transportation, marine, and agro-meteorology. We provide them with services, yet our welfare is inadequate. Therefore, we are requesting that the government investigate our case.In addition to pointing out the toll the existing system is having on NiMet employees, Paul Ogohi, secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, denounced the actions of several domestic airlines.
“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 meant to govern aviation operations, but we, the locals, are 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.
“Ninety per cent no longer have good vision, because we are constantly working to observe the aerodrome. We have eye defects. It is unbearable. Some of us are taking loans to pay school fees, rent, and even to come to work.
“We are appealing to the Minister to please come to our aid. We are seeing changes, but those changes should extend to NiMet because we are suffering.”
In reaction, the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, said 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. Rest assured,” he said.
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