The Nigerian government has cleared the 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to the staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).



The delay in payment, which dates back to 2019, has frequently caused tension between NiMet management, agency staff, and labour unions. 
Earlier this year, the unions had planned to go on strike starting Monday, May 20, 2024. 



However, the strike was called off following the intervention of the House Committee on Aviation Technology and their Senate counterpart. 
The unions suspended the strike after a special session was convened on Sunday, May 19, 2024. 
The session, led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, included NiMet management and union representatives, where an agreement was reached.
Prof Charles Anosike, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for authorising the payment of the arrears.


“Mr. President has once again shown his commitment to workers' welfare. The issue of the unpaid 45-month wage arrears predates this administration, but Mr. President has cleared the outstanding payments,” Anosike said.
Anosike further expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and all others who contributed to the resolution.
“Our expectation is that the staff and unions will express their appreciation to Mr. President by working diligently and staying focused on ensuring that NiMet continues to fulfill its mandate.”


The staff of NiMet, through the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC), also extended their thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister Festus Keyamo, the House and Senate Committees on Aviation, and Prof. Charles Anosike.


In a statement dated August 12, 2024, signed by Okechukwu Nwokoro, Secretary of NJAC and Branch President of SSASCGOC at NiMet, the unions expressed their deep gratitude for the collective efforts that led to the payment of the outstanding arrears owed to NiMet staff from 2019 to 2022.
“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,” the statement read.