After the expiration of a two-week ultimatum, the management and staff unions at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency have agreed to suspend the planned strike by workers at the agency over welfare issues.

The postponement of the strike was contained in a statement from NiMet.

Earlier in January, the unions: National Union of Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, had about two weeks ago, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management of NiMet.

The strike was expected to commence on February 4, 2025, over several reasons bordering on salary regulation, neglect of workers, welfare, and failure to implement critical policies for staff wellbeing among others, but was suspended following an agreement reached with the management of NiMet earlier on Monday.

The unions accused the management of neglecting workers’ welfare and failing to implement critical policies for staff wellbeing.

They said, “We are highly concerned that your management has inexplicably refused all entreaties from our unions to address the extremely adverse circumstances of the workers at NiMet. Despite being aware of the clear backward state of NiMet’s staff welfare status in the aviation industry, your management remains unmoved and lethargic in addressing this obvious malady.”

However, after the meeting, both parties reached a truce and signed a white paper with a set timeline on the various issues raised by the unions.

Also, the President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Benjamin Nnabue, who led the negotiations on behalf of the unions, said that the unions were not in the habit of embarking on strikes and antagonising management, but usually resort to such as the last option.

Nnabue further agreed that some of the issues predated the current administration but insisted a government should be a continuum.

The Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, reiterated that the management would always champion the cause of workers’ welfare, but within realistic economic conditions.

“I welcome the efforts of the national officers of NiMet agency-based unions and the input of the branches. We are not over the line yet on the issues, but I am happy that we have been able to convince the unions’ leadership to postpone their planned strike action.

“This will enable management to continue with its ongoing efforts towards obtaining the necessary approvals from the Federal Government on the issues raised by unions,” he said.xx