Flight operations resumed on Friday as the workers of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, have suspended their strike, which disrupted the aviation sector.
The strike suspension comes after the intervention of Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo. Staff of NiMeT agreed to temporarily suspend their industrial action for two weeks to give the federal government an opportunity to address the concerns raised by the workers.
The decision was reached Thursday evening after Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, met with leaders of the aggrieved unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, said.
The industrial action was embarked upon by NiMet workers on Wednesday to demand improved welfare, promotion, and better welfare and has stalled the operations of flights in Nigerian airports.
Consequently, NiMet’s workers strike resulted in the shutdown of Air Peace flight operations on Wednesday and incessant flight delays and cancelations in Nigerian airports.
In reaction, the Group Captain John Ojikutu, a retired Air Force officer and aviation expert, said the strike was imminent and had put the sector at risk and loss.
According to him, the remuneration of NiMet workers should be shouldered by the Ministry of Aviation and other agencies enjoying their services in the sector.
