NUATE cautions NIMET workers against embarking on strike

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), has cautioned staffers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), against embarking on strike over actualisation of their Condition of Service (CoS).NUATE urged the workers to go about their duty lawfully saying the union would negotiate their entitlements with the agency for a better working environment.
 
There had been brewing conflict between the management and staff following a petition written by a faction of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), on the non-implementation of condition of service that would make the staff of the agency to be at par with sister agencies.
 
The National Public Relations Officer of NUATE, Uzor Samuel Oluchi, in a statement said: “We once more call on all staff of the Agency to ignore any unnecessary/intending strike that is about to be called upon by some hoodlums whose aim is to draw back the progress of NiMet management and the activities of NUATE and AUPCTRE.”
 
He noted that the Director General of NIMET, Prof Sani Abubakar Mashi, upon assumption of office observed that administrative proceedings and processes were in shambles amid deteriorating morale of staff welfare where staffers are not paid their official claims accrued to them whenever they embarked on official assignment, saying Mashi has turned the situation around.
 
The statement pointed out that the DG has ensured payment of backlog of unpaid staff claims, which cover relocation allowance to repatriation allowance owed to staff at various levels, directing that all other outstanding claims should be paid on a monthly basis.

NUATE also noted that NiMET helmsman has equally ensured promotion of staff as at when due. Oluchi added: “As we speak, 2019 promotion examination for officers on salary grade level 15 and above has been conducted.”

and successful candidates have been issued promotion letters while officers on salary grade level 14 and below have also written their 2019 promotions exam and are waiting to be promoted to the next levels soonest.
 
Also on the issue of land allocation for members of staff that have lying fallow since 2004, the union noted that the DG has been able to negotiate for waivers with the FCT authorities and the waiver has been granted saying very soon staffers would be allocated their plots of land.

However, NUATE urged the DG to implement the Condition of Service (CoS) promised them during the station tour on the actualization of the CoS to make the workers at be at par with their sister agency in the same ministry.
 
“We urge other unions to support the Director-General/CEO and his management staff towards the actualization of the Condition of Service (CoS) instead of writing malicious petitions against management which is seriously uncalled for,” the statement said.