The striking workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on Thursday called off its strike following the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
However, the industrial action is generating controversies in the industry following the decision of airlines to ignore NiMet’s weather report to operate while Air Peace was the only airline which suspended its operation.
Three industry unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), had declared an indefinite strike over issues of condition of service.
The unions, in a circular to their members, stated that they had made efforts to alleviate the “Exceedingly unjust remuneration conundrum” with “No substantial result”, adding that the staff had been plunged into poverty.
The unions also lamented that the agreements between the management and workers signed since January 29, 2025, to improve the conditions of service had been breached.
NiMet workers nationwide had been directed to withdraw all services from the agency indefinitely with effect from midnight of Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Daily Trust reports that following the strike, NiMet suspended provision of Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF), meteorological trend forecast, meteorological and climate information data collected across 56 synoptic stations, while meteorological information is not disseminated according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard and recommended practices, among others.
Also, weather briefing was not given to flights, with the development threatening safe flight operations.
Following the development, Air Peace announced the suspension of all flights nationwide pending the suspension of NIMET workers’ strike.
“We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Air Peace is suspending all flight operations nationwide with immediate effect.
“This decision is necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, which are critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Without these reports from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed.”
Daily Trust learnt that some foreign airlines also suspended flights to Nigeria due to the strike.
Other domestic airlines however failed to suspend their flights while choosing to rely on alternative weather services.
Our correspondent reports that NIMET, as an agency of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, provides weather forecasts for airlines and other sectors.
In aviation, it provides landing and takeoff forecasting, area forecasting, windshear warning, terminal aerodrome forecast, en-route/destination weather, among others.
While Air Peace suspended its flights, other airlines including Ibom Air, ValueJet, United Nigeria Airlines, Aero Contractors, Max Air, Rano, among others operated their flights.
Checks by our correspondent yesterday indicated that Aero Contractors operated flights to Sokoto, ValueJet operated its scheduled flights to Abuja; Arik Air operated Benin, Port Harcourt, among others just like other airlines apart from Air Peace operated its scheduled flights.
Earlier on Thursday morning, United Nigeria in a statement said it continued to operate despite the NIMET’s strike.
Its Public Relations Officer, Chibuke Uloka in the statement said, “While NiMet provides essential meteorological support to the aviation sector, our operations continue seamlessly through the deployment of alternative and internationally recognised weather data sources. These include real-time satellite monitoring, global aviation meteorology systems, pilot weather reports, and coordination with air traffic control services.”
Nigerian Meteorology Society drags airlines to ICAO, WMO
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Meteorology Society (NMetS), a professional body within the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has petitioned the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) over the continued operations of some airlines despite the strike by NiMet workers.
In a strongly worded letter signed by NMetS National President, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, and the Abuja Branch Chairman, Comrade Awotu Auptre, the body condemned the operations of airlines without proper meteorological briefings, describing it as dangerous and a violation of global aviation safety practices.
The statement singled out United Nigeria Airlines, accusing the carrier of using “quack methods” to obtain weather reports and warning that such actions could endanger the lives of passengers.
The statement read, “United Nigeria Airlines are not trained to issue meteorological reports and have not received ISO certification to engage in such activities.
“The professional body has officially contacted ICAO and WMO over this rogue approach, which contradicts best aviation practices and threatens flight safety in Nigeria.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) has without mincing words condemned the decision of some airlines for allegedly compromising and jeopardising safety by continuing to operate.
The National President of NAFSA, Comrade Ugbeikwu Sunday berated the Management of United Nigeria Airlines saying that the United Nigeria Airlines should as a matter of urgency be sanctioned by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for jettisoning safety which should be a given topmost priority.
“How can you fly when NiMet is on strike? It means you have violated the NCAA regulations,” NAFSA said.
He continued: “As the gatekeeper of safety on the ground, we will not condone such recklessness next time. The firefighters are always battle ready to do their jobs, however we will not condone a situation whereby a certain airline would decide to neglect safety principles and fly even when the skies are not safe. The memories of the past crashes are still fresh on our minds and we do not want a repeat of such. Nobody should cause problems for the nation. Any crash is a national disaster. We do not want crashes, especially those caused by deliberate human negligence of safety principles.”
Comrade Ugbeikwu Sunday further advised the airlines generally to ensure that they prioritise safety henceforth.
We have not committed any offence – Airlines
Some of the airlines that spoke to our correspondent said they have not committed any offence by choosing to operate without NIMET’s weather report.
Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi in a chat with our correspondent wondered why the meteorology society would report the airlines to ICAO and not the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which is the apex regulatory authority.
According to Sanusi, no airline will operate without the required information. He explained that no pilot would operate without obtaining the necessary weather information.
He said, “There is no pilot that will take off without getting the necessary information to conduct a safe flight because pilots too have life. So they would not take off without having the necessary flight information to conduct the flight.
“Pilots don’t operate anyhow like a mad house. There is an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) that would give them information for start-off based on the information he receives. If there is an alternate way of getting the information and you get that information, won’t you operate the flight?”.
He added that pilots are also equipped with PIREP (Pilot Report), which provides a guide for them to take off.
Sanusi explained that PIREP is globally accepted and it is more accurate than forecast weather report, saying, “Because this person is actually on ground and he has flown through the weather and
As far as he is concerned, he stated that the airlines that flew had not committed any offence, adding, “I still don’t understand why they are reporting to ICAO while we have the NCAA. If there is any infringement of any regulation, I think the first point of call is the NCAA, first stating that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is giving illegal start-up or illegal landing.”
NIMET weather service is the approved specification – Expert
Aviation analyst, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick in a chat with our correspondent stated that while there are other approved weather sources, NIMET weather service is the approved Operation Specification.
“There are specifications on sources of weather which in our own case is NIMET’s. If it is other approved (weather sources), it is ambivalent. So for them to be specific, since the NCAA has a list of approved ICAO sources, I would expect them to go back to the NCAA to seek a waiver.
“Because should anything happen, the underwriters (Insurance) would now look at your specification. They would now look at the specification, if it is NIMET, they would say but NIMET is on strike. You can’t say others because that is ambivalent. Should anything happen, it means the insurance will not pay any compensation.”
“In a situation where NiMet is on strike and it is the primary weather source specified in an airline’s Operations Specifications (Ops Specs), airlines could request a waiver from the regulatory authority (e.g., Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority), allowing them to use alternative weather sources to ensure safe and COMPLIANT flight operations.”
Normal flight operations resume immediately
Following the intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, the strike action embarked upon by unions within the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has been suspended until May 13, 2025, pending the outcome of the minister’s intervention on the issues raised.
A statement by the spokesman for the minister, Tunde Moshood quoted the union leaders as confirming the suspension of the strike.
Comrade Aba Ocheme, National Secretary of NUATE said, “We have resolved to suspend the ongoing strike till May 13, 2025, in recognition of the honourable minister’s timely and sincere intervention. We await the progress of the actions he has committed to take.”
Corroborating the position, Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, said, “As a mark of respect for the honourable minister’s intervention and assurance, we have decided to temporarily call off the strike while the process of resolution is ongoing.”
The unions had downed tools over a number of unresolved grievances relating to poor working conditions, including salary relativity with other aviation agencies, non-implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment to the national minimum wage (affecting at least 30 omitted staff), demands for a 25/35% salary increase, 40% hardship/peculiar allowances, annual staff trainings, among others.
In response, the minister expressed empathy with the affected workers and pledged his commitment to finding lasting solutions to their concerns.
As part of immediate steps, he announced the following: “Personal intervention through formal communications to both the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the minister of finance, aimed at fast-tracking the resolution of pressing financial concerns;
“Establishment of a Ministerial Committee, headed by the permanent secretary of the ministry, to interface with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to clarify issues surrounding subsistence allowances and related matters.”
