In protest against poor remuneration and welfare packages, staff of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), yesterday, commenced an indefinite strike, withdrawing their services nationwide. 
 
This caused some airlines, such as Air Peace, to suspend operations. The workers during a protest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, were seen with placards chanting “No weather, no flight, fly at your own risk.”
 
The implication of the chant was to sensitise passengers that they had ceased providing weather information to airlines; hence, passengers would be flying at their own risk.  
 
During the protest at the international wing of the Abuja Airport, The Guardian observed that passengers were moving in and out of the airport, but were sceptical about the protest by the NIMET workers. 
 
A passenger, who spoke to The Guardian, appealed to the striking workers to call off the industrial action.  Air Peace announced the suspension of all flight operations nationwide with immediate effect, due to the strike.
 
According to them, without Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather (CNH) reports, which are critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed.
 
Assistant Chief Meteorologist at the Central Forecast office, Department of Weather Forecast Services, NIMET, MrsIbiam Aderonke, said the workers were asking for salary relativity, given that they were one of the most important service providers for the Ministry of Aviation as well as the country. 
 
She said: “NIMET is the only agency where you have a level four officer that is not collecting the minimum wage agreement reached in 2019, let alone the N70,000 minimum wage. Some of our employees earn N28,000, and we are saying that is not enough to meet the needs of their families and to provide the quality service NIMET is known for.”
 
Deputy National President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Samuel Uzor, regretted that the management had yet to meet any of the agreements entered with the union since January 28.
 

The protest, led by members of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) in Kano, left several air passengers stranded due to flight delays. 
 
Although normalcy seems to have returned, The Guardian confirmed that the NiMet office remained under lock and key.   It was gathered that AUPCTRE had forced the staff of NiMet out of the office and locked up the manager of Kano office, who refused to vacate the premises to register displeasure over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage.
 
North West Zonal Chairman of the union, Timothy Meshelia, told journalists that the protest disrupted many flights at the airport, adding that the union had demanded that the management take proactive measures to address the economic challenges faced by staff, including the payment of a Subsistence Allowance as agreed with the unions.