Abuja, Nigeria – April 25, 2025:
The strike by workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which disrupted flight operations nationwide, has been called off following a high-level intervention by the Federal Government.
The industrial action, which began earlier this week, saw workers protesting poor working conditions, including the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, exclusion of certain staff from previous allowances, and a lack of key training programmes. The protest led to widespread disruptions at airports across the country, grounding several flights and leaving passengers stranded.
The strike was officially called off after a crucial meeting held in Abuja with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. Also present at the meeting were the Director General of NiMet, representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and key union bodies including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and the National Union of Transport Employees.
Flight operations at major airports such as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos had been affected, with local carriers forced to suspend services over safety concerns.
Notably, Air Peace halted all flights nationwide in response to the strike. In a statement issued by the airline’s Chairman and CEO, Allen Onyema, the company emphasized the importance of safety in flight operations.
“If NiMet has not called off the strike, cancel every Air Peace flight now with immediate effect,” Onyema stated on Wednesday. “People’s lives and the safety of our equipment and our crew are foremost. Look at the thunderstorm everywhere… NiMet is supposed to provide these updates, and they are on strike.”
The resolution of the strike has brought relief to thousands of passengers and signals a renewed commitment by the government to address the concerns raised by aviation sector workers.
