AVIATION UNIONS SUSPEND STRIKE AS KEYAMO INTERVENES
Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have suspended their strike until May 13 following a critical intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The resolution came after a tense negotiation session between Keyamo and union leaders from the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
The strike, which disrupted operations in the sector, was driven by grievances ranging from unimplemented salary adjustments to poor working conditions and lack of regular staff training. At the heart of their demands were salary relativity with other aviation agencies, implementation of a 25–35% salary increase, and the release of a 40% hardship allowance.
Speaking after the meeting, Comrade Aba Ocheme (NUATE) and Comrade Alale Adedayo (ANAP) confirmed the unions had agreed to suspend the strike out of respect for the minister’s “timely and sincere” intervention. Keyamo, in a statement issued by his aide Tunde Moshood, pledged to personally intervene at the highest levels, including through formal communication with President Tinubu and the Minister of Finance.
To further the resolution process, the minister announced the establishment of a Ministerial Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, to engage the Salaries and Wages Commission and the Ministry of Labour on the agency’s salary issues. Keyamo also praised the union leaders’ patriotism and promised concrete action before the May 13 deadline, assuring all stakeholders that tangible progress would be made to resolve workers’ welfare concerns.
