Following an intervention by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, unions within the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have suspended the strike action embarked upon until May 13, 2025, pending the outcome of the minister’s intervention.

This development emerged at the end of a meeting convened by the minister with leaders of the aggrieved unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).

Read Also: Aviation Minister Meets With Striking Unions

It would be recalled that unions within NiMet had, on Tuesday, the 23rd of April, 2025, embarked on strike action, stating that critical components of a previous agreement were not met, despite NiMet’s management reassurance of its commitment to staff welfare.

Speaking after the meeting, the National Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Aba Ocheme, confirmed the decision to suspend the strike action.

BREAKING: Nimet Unions Suspend Strike As Keyamo Intervene @IndependentNGR https://t.co/tY9JAvbLPT

— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) April 24, 2025

HAPPENING NOW! Hon. Minister of Aviation Engages Aviation Unions Over Ongoing Strike

The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development @fmaviationng, @fkeyamo, is currently in a high-level meeting with the Permanent Secretary and heads of aviation agencies, alongside… pic.twitter.com/L49kTTPp4B

— Gbenga Saka (@gbengasaka) April 24, 2025

” he said.

The National President of ANAP, Comrade Alale Adedayo, also corroborated the decision.

“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,” he stated.

The unions had downed tools over several 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.

Responding, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development expressed empathy with the affected workers and pledged his commitment to finding lasting solutions to their concerns. As part of the mediated 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.

The Honourable Minister reiterated the importance of industrial harmony in the aviation sector and commended the union leaders for their maturity, patriotism, and willingness to dialogue in the national interest.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, assured stakeholders that tangible progress will be made before the May 13 deadline and called for continued cooperation to ensure improved welfare and working conditions for NIMET staff and all aviation personnel.