By Dele ogbodo
Management of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has expressed avowed commitments to addressing the grievances raised by the various Unions within the aviation sector, even as it said that some of the demands were spuriously orchestrated, needless, and baseless because of its retrogressive intents to dismantling harmonious working relationship and environment.
In what management referred to as a progressive and win-win efforts it took to holistically address the looming labour crisis, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, who spoke through the Director, Director, Human Resource Management and Administration, Mr. Nasiru Sani, called on the: National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), to recuse and to back down on the planned industrial action because of its anti-development intents and the inherent intrigues it embedded.
The DG/CEO, acknowledged that management objected to the: Peculiar Allowance as demanded by the union, because NiMet is not entitled to such largesse as specified by the Salaries, Income, and Wages Commission, adding: NiMet is not entitled to the Peculiar Allowance because they just approved other allowances for the agency.
However, he expressed excitement at the goodies for NiMet staff in several coming allowances, adding: “These newly approved allowances are said to be: Professional Allowance, Proficiency Allowance, Hazard Allowance, and Wardrobe Allowance.
Prof. Anosike, said: “It may at this point be pertinent to note that while management appreciated the efforts in averting any industrial crisis through the harmonious collaboration with the Unions, it must be known that management never relaxed its efforts towards being in line with the collective bargaining reached in the agreement with the unions.
“As already mentioned, what was within the purview of management to do, has already been done and those that other government agencies has responsibility over, management have kept pursuing.”
According to the DG, the Unions’ call for the commencement of comprehensive mobilization seem to have been contemplated in a hurry, safe for the oversight of not going by the rule of allowing at least 7 days’ notice as prescribed by known labour laws.
The CEO, took exception to the suddenness expressed on the planned action, which he said is a clear pointer to sabotage and being insensitive to government and management’s efforts to manage and address a historical perennial situation that had bedevilled the Agency, all these past years.
He said: “Again, it must be noted that this call has obvious security implications and is an affront on the Minister, whose concerns and efforts to continuously address the peculiar challenges of the agency have had no bounds and as well as an infringement on the realization of Mr. President’s agenda on security and development of the sector.
“It may also be noted that the 8 points the unions presented to Management as their concerns and agitations on: Non-implementation of new minimum wage, non-payment of 9 months arrears of consequential adjustments of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act; request to comply with Ministerial Directives for the review of the conditions of service, refusal to implement the reviewed Scheme of Service since 2019, non-payment of Peculiar Allowance and Wages Award, non-payment of Hardship Allowance, improved communication channel, others which included: Implementation of measures to ameliorate and mitigate the economic challenges faced by staff, Continuation of 2024 Staff General Training and Payment of outstanding arrears of 36 months to 30 staff omitted from earlier payment.”
According to him, the management had made very frank efforts to address all, absolutely respecting the agreement reached with the Unions.
“The recent threats are becoming indicative that there is more to these agitations than what is actually known.
“From the foregoing, it is obvious that management had with great efforts attempted to address all issues raised and even more.
“The Unions’ allegation that management is scheduling another management retreat is unfounded, untrue, and baseless as there is no such proposal, and in any way, if management is predisposed to a retreat, it must not be at the instance of the Unions.”
In defence and as stated in his reply to the letter written to the Union, the DG, averred that most of the issues that were raised were not those that management could handle with just the rule of the thumb, stressing that they were issues that needed the interventions of other government agencies that management have actually related with and in most of the cases awaiting responses or approvals.
He said negotiated condition of service, management noted the Unions’ recognition that the Conditions of Service had been forwarded to the Ministry for processing.
“However, Management frowned very seriously at the Unions’ “unbelief” attitude, of thinking that it could negatively have tamper with a document that is also beneficial to members of Management.
Properly regarded, it’s so demeaning for any to have insinuated and suspected any foul play on such a collective document.
It would rather be observed that the Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer noted and added allowances that were not negotiated for at the committee meetings to enrich the content of the document, which he of course had the prerogative to do.
“Still on the Conditions of Service, it is on record that 3 copies of this proposed Conditions of Service were handed to one of the Union’s National Executive Member for onward delivery to other Union Members as of 9th April, 2025 at about 11.00 am, in the Director, Human Resource Management and Administration’s office.
“Feedback on: 25-35% wage award, a month balance of 2019 Minimum Wage and 30 names omitted from the 2019 Minimum Wage Payment. All of the above, paragraph 3(a – c), have gone through various stages of actions and have been approved by the relevant authority, in this case, the Director, Budget Office.
“These are now awaiting the availability of funds for payments to be made, that are not within the purview of Management. It must be noted that, Management having pushed these matters thus far, is constrained as that is the furthest it can go pending any further actions on the matter by the responsible government agency.
“Salary Relativity On the issue of Salary Relativity, the document referred to during the Committee meeting, when it was said that the Minister had in the past directed the adoption of the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) salary structure for NiMet is yet to be seen, neither has it been found anywhere.
“However, Management on its own, has been on the matter with the Minister, and the feedback is positive as the Minister is willing to do anything that will improve the working conditions of NiMet staff.
“It must be noted here that the Director General/Chief Executive had in this regard, also written and signed letters to government agencies this correspondence could be traceable to and responses are being awaited.” He said.
