Workers from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency set up protest at the airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano on Wednesday, which caused flight operations to be hampered at all three of these locations.
At 7am on Wednesday, the strike was officially declared to have begun at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Following Wednesday’s protest by NiMet personnel over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, numerous travelers were stranded at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
It was confirmed by Timothy Meshelia, the Northwest Zonal Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, that the demonstration on Wednesday halted multiple aircraft at the airport.
“The protesting staff are accusing the management of NiMet of failing to implement the N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wage, non-payment of staff allowances, ignoring requests to include omitted staff in past payments, and neglecting key training programmes, among other issues.
“The association has given the management one month to implement the new minimum wage or face industrial action”
Although Air Peace did not operate as planned at the Lagos airport, XEJET, Aero Contractors, and Ibom Air all did so as planned.
In a statement signed by the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, Air Peace stated that following the strike by NiMet staff, it had to suspend its operations.
It reads, “Due to the ongoing NiMet strike and the unavailability of CNH (hazardous weather) reports required for safe landings, Air Peace has suspended all flight operations nationwide until the strike is over.
“Your safety is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and will share updates as the situation unfolds”
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has called for a meeting with members of the NiMet unions that are protesting in order to address the situation. Today, Thursday, is the day that the meeting is planned to take place.