As the nationwide strike by staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) enters its second day, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, convened a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday to address the workers’ grievances, which have crippled domestic flight operations.
The meeting, held behind closed doors after a brief opening session, brought together officials from NiMET, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and key unions in the aviation sector. These included the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and other allied labour groups.
At the heart of the workers’ agitation is the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, delayed allowances, and the exclusion of certain staff members from previous benefits. Concerns also revolve around the neglect of essential training programmes deemed critical for safety and operational standards.
Local airports across the country, most notably the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, have seen a wave of cancelled flights and stranded passengers as the impact of the strike widens.
Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, announced a full suspension of operations on safety grounds, citing the absence of NiMET’s weather advisory services which are vital for safe air navigation, particularly amid turbulent weather conditions.
In a video clip, Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema issued a directive to ground all flights, underscoring the airline’s zero-compromise stance on safety.
“If NiMET is still on strike, cancel every Air Peace flight with immediate effect,” Onyema was heard instructing. “Safety of lives, equipment, and crew comes first. I don’t care if others are flying—we will not take that risk.”