Flight activities were disturbed on Wednesday at major airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano as workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) began a protest over unpaid allowances and salary issues.
At the Lagos airport, only a few airlines like XEJET, Aero Contractors, and Ibom Air were able to fly as planned. Popular airline, Air Peace, stopped its flights because of the strike. The airline explained in a message posted on its official social media page that it could not get important weather reports needed for safe flights.
The airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, said, “Due to the ongoing NiMet strike and the unavailability of CNH (hazardous weather) reports required for safe landings, Air Peace has suspended all flight operations nationwide until the strike is over.
“Your safety is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and will share updates as the situation unfolds.”
In Abuja, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the strike started as early as 7:00 am. NiMet staff and their union leaders gathered at the airport to make sure no weather services were provided. Some workers even spent the night there to fully enforce the protest.
In Kano, many travellers were left stranded as several flights were delayed or cancelled at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. An airport worker, who did not want his name mentioned, said the protest greatly affected flight operations.
“As you know, flights are determined by weather, and NiMet is the agency providing weather information to pilots. So, though some flight operations are still ongoing, the protest has affected many flights,” he said.
According to Timothy Meshelia, Northwest Zonal Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, the protest was about several problems — including the failure to pay the new N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wage, unpaid allowances, leaving some staff out of previous payments, and refusing to organise important staff training.
“The association has given the management one month to implement the new minimum wage or face industrial action,” Meshelia said.
Meanwhile, a senior NiMet official, who spoke anonymously, said the management was unhappy with the strike since some of the problems had already been resolved and others were being worked on.
“The management is disappointed with the hardline taken by the unions when some of the issues in dispute have been resolved, and others are in various stages of resolution. In a response given by management when the unions served it a strike notice, management stated all the issues and their status,” the official added.
Despite the problems, NiMet management promised to keep working to settle the matter. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called a meeting with the unions and management today, Thursday, April 24, 2025, hoping to end the strike and restore normal activities.
On the side of the unions, Uzor Oluchi, Deputy President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, complained about the poor working conditions for NiMet workers.
“The welfare of NiMet staff is very poor. In fact, if you come to the aviation industry, NiMet staff are paid less. As I’m talking to you, a level 4 NiMet staff is collecting N31,000 despite the minimum wage that the Federal Government is giving,” she said.
