Federal Government Settles Long-Overdue 45-Month Minimum Wage Arrears for NiMet Staff
Written by Jerry Alomatu on August 13, 2024
The Federal Government has resolved a major financial issue for employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) by paying off 45 months of outstanding minimum wage arrears. This move addresses a long-standing dispute that had strained relations between NiMet management and its staff.
The payment was confirmed in a statement released on Monday by Okechukwu Nwokoro, Secretary of the NiMet Union Joint Action Committee. These arrears, which have been pending since 2019, had created significant tension between NiMet management and its staff, resulting in frequent disputes with labor unions.
Earlier this year, there was a serious threat of industrial action, with unions planning a strike on May 20, 2024. However, the strike was averted through timely intervention by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and its Senate counterpart.
An agreement was finalized on May 19, 2024, during a special session convened by the House Committee on Aviation Technology, chaired by Abiodun Akinlade, with both NiMet management and union representatives present.
NiMet’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for authorizing the settlement of the arrears.
“Mr President has demonstrated once again that he is a worker-friendly President. The issue of the unpaid 45-month wage arrears predates this administration, but still, Mr President has cleared the outstanding,” Anosike said. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, along with the Chairmen and members of the House and Senate Committees on Aviation Technology for their crucial roles in resolving the matter.
The NiMet staff, represented by the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee, also expressed their thanks to President Tinubu, Keyamo, and other government officials for their intervention.
The unions conveyed their appreciation, stating, “This significant action has greatly alleviated the financial challenges faced by our workforce and has renewed our hope and commitment to serving the nation with excellence.”
FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS:
- WhatsApp channel: Shiloh Media Advertising
- Facebook: Shiloh Media
- Twitter: Shiloh Media
- Instagram: Shiloh Media
- YouTube: Shiloh Media
- Tiktok: Shiloh Media
Author: Jerry Alomatu
Astute communicator
