NIMET condemns strike threats by aviation unions 

Chinazor Megbolu    |   

The management of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has condemned the threats issued by aviation unions to embark on industrial action, saying it was not necessary.

In a letter sent to the unions by the Director-General, NIMET, Professor Sani Mashi, he noted that there was no justification for the threat of going on strike by the joint union of workers namely; Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

He said that most of the claimed sundry issues have been either addressed or presently being attended to.

He also hinted that the strike would rather distract the agency’s attention in pursuing these noble goals.

Mashi pointed out that the resolutions reached in March 2019 by the Ministerial Committee on the Harmonisation of Salaries of Staff in Aviation Agencies, which the unions were well represented, that the salary adjustment for NIMET staff was discussed and resolved at the Committee and the Ministry of Aviation has presented it for further action to the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission.

He further stated that the Ministry was saddled with the task of handling the matter with commission.

Mashi further urged the unions to know that it is the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and not the NIMET that is responsible for the payment of these arrears and that the management of the agency has been consistently pursuing the matter with the Account-General’s Office through contacts with the relevant Departments.

“Agency’s Department of Accounts & Finance have computed and paid monetary compensation to all Staff on essential duty. 

“As at last week, only one (1) week palliative was in arrears and this has been settled this week.

“Implementation of minimum wage it’s a known fact that the Agency does not pay its Staff salary. The Federal Government, through the Office of the Account General of the Federation, pays such salaries to Agency’s Staff.

“On the issue of lateral conversion, the management wishes to state that it is not true that the Agency is denying lateral conversion to staff on professional cadres who graduated after attaining grade level 10…,” as posited by your Unions. 

“However, in 2016 when the Agency’s Senior Staff Committee recommended for the lateral conversion of Officers on Salary Grade Level 10 and above, the Ministry of Aviation stepped it down on the ground that the Agency’s practice contravenes Extant Rules and Regulations.

“In giving importance to training of staff, the management in 2019 developed a guideline to standardise and formalise requests for study leaves for diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate programmes. 

“As a matter of policy and practice, the issues of training and retraining of staff have been taken seriously,” he said.

Mashi noted that the management of NIMET wishes to categorically state that it has been doing all within its power to positively ameliorate all the sundry issues raised by the Staff and all the Unions in the Agency.

He also added that the management is committed and dedicated to the promotion of staff welfare and development, including securing what rightfully belongs to them.

According to him; in so doing, however, the Agency is compelled to strictly adhere to Government policies, as well as Extant Rules and Regulations”.