By Chinelo Obogo
Airlines have suspended flights nationwide due to the ongoing industrial action of staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Air Peace which flies to over 20 domestic routes, said in an email to their customers on Wednesday, that it is suspending all flight operations nationwide with immediate effect due to the strike as NiMET is responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, which are critical for safe landings.
The airline said: “We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Air Peace. This decision is necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, which are critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Without these reports from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed. As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.”
NiMET’s workers were seen early on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, chanting slogans such as “No weather, no flights” and “Fly at your own risk.” The industrial action follows the breakdown of talks between labor unions and NiMet’s management. In a letter signed on Monday by the National 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), the workers accused NiMet of refusing to negotiate or implement agreed financial allowances, including wage awards, peculiar allowances, and outstanding payments from the 2019 minimum wage.
They also alleged that the agency’s management withheld important documents, ignored requests to include omitted staff in past payments, and neglected key training programs in favor of executive retreats.
The unions stated that NiMet’s failure to meet their demands left them with no choice but to withdraw all services indefinitely, effective April 22, until further notice.
“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. 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 honoured largely only in the breach.
“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 letter read.
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