The Federal Government has resolved the long-standing issue of unpaid minimum wage arrears for employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
According to The PUNCH, the payment of the 45-month arrears, which had accumulated since 2019, was confirmed in a statement released on Monday by the Secretary of the NiMet Union Joint Action Committee, Okechukwu Nwokoro.
This delay in payments had been a significant source of conflict between NiMet management and its employees, causing frequent disputes with labour unions.
The situation became particularly tense earlier this year when unions planned a strike on May 20, 2024, in protest of the unpaid wages.
The potential strike was narrowly avoided thanks to timely intervention by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and its Senate counterpart.
A crucial agreement was reached on May 19, 2024, during a special session led by Abiodun Akinlade, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology.
This session brought together NiMet management and union representatives to negotiate the resolution.
NiMet’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, expressed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for authorizing the payment of the arrears.
Anosike praised the President’s commitment to workers, stating, “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 also acknowledged the efforts of various key figures, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN.
He extended thanks to Akinlade and the House Committee on Aviation Technology, as well as to Senator Abdulfatai Buhari and the Senate Committee on Aviation for their roles in resolving the issue.
“I wish to thank the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, for the role he played. Also the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Abiodun Akinlade, and members of the Committee for their sacrifices and timely intervention. I wish to also thank the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and the members of the committee. I thank all the others who played different roles in the process,” Anosike stated.
The NiMet staff, represented by the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee, expressed their gratitude for the resolution of the arrears issue.
They commended the collective efforts of the government officials involved, noting that the payment has significantly alleviated their financial burdens and renewed their commitment to their work.
The unions stated, “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.”
