The planned strike by workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has now been suspended following the swift intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

An official statement on Thursday by the Media Assistant to the minister, Tunde Moshood, said that the staff, in agreement with their unions, decided to call off the strike so as to give room for further deliberation.

The unions had earlier issued a notice of industrial action over unresolved welfare issues, including salary relativity, pending arrears, and non-payment of certain staff entitlements.

A communiqué jointly signed by representatives of the ministry and union leaders — Odinaka Igbokwe, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Alo Lawrence, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Association Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Alale Adedayo. Among the resolutions, the Minister and the Permanent Secretary agreed to engage relevant government authorities on the issue of salary relativity for NiMet workers. They outlined the key resolutions that paved the way for the truce.

On pending financial matters, the meeting resolved that the ministry would ensure consistent follow-up on the payment of 2024 Minimum Wage Arrears and the nine months of Consequential Salary Adjustment still owed to staff.

To address the issue of omitted staff, NiMet management is to immediately pay the 30 affected employees from the agency’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The meeting also resolved that 35 per cent of the approved furniture grant would be paid immediately, while the remaining 65 per cent would be captured in the 2026 Annual Budget.

In addition, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, is to constitute an inter-agency account reconciliation committee to reconcile and recover funds owed to NiMet by other agencies.

On the issue of Conditions of Service (CoS), it was agreed that union representatives would be involved in pursuing approvals for allowances and establishment matters with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Keyamo, in his address, commended the union leaders for their maturity and commitment to dialogue, noting that the government remained committed to ensuring industrial harmony, improved staff welfare, and institutional reforms in the aviation sector.

“The ministry is fully committed to promoting staff welfare, maintaining industrial peace, and strengthening productivity across all aviation agencies,” the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Keyamo said in conclusion.