Federal Govt Clears NiMet Workers’ 45-month Wage Backlog
The Federal Government of Nigeria has finally settled the 45 months’ minimum wage arrears owed to members of staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
A statement on Monday quoted the Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, as having expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving payment of the outstandings.
He also thanked the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo for the role he played and the chairmen and members of the House of Representatives and Senate committees on Aviation for their interventions.
Anosike said that the management of NiMet was expectant that members of staff and the unions in the agency would reciprocate the president’s kind gesture with hard work.
“Mr. President has demonstrated once again that he is a worker-friendly president.
“The issue of the unpaid 45-month wage arrears predates this administration, but still, Mr. President has cleared the outstanding.
“I wish to thank the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, for the role he played. Also the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, and members of the Committee for their sacrifices and timely intervention.
“I wish to also thank the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and the members of the Committee.
“I thank all the others who played different roles in the process. Our expectations are that staff and the unions will show Mr. President appreciation by working hard and staying focused to ensure that NiMet continues to achieve its mandate.”
Similarly, members of the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC), have thanked Tinubu for approving payment of the arrears.
They also thanked the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Aviation as well as the director-general of the agency, Prof. Charles Anosike, for the development.
In a press release on Monday signed by the secretary of NJAC, Okechukwu Nwokoro, and the president of SSASCGOC, NiMet branch, they said they were happy over the collective intervention in ensuring the payment of the outstanding minimum wage arrears owed to NiMet staff members from 2019 to 2022.
“This significant action has greatly alleviated the financial challenges faced by our workforce and has renewed our hope and commitment to serving the nation with excellence.
“The resolution of this issue has not only eased the financial burden on NiMet staff, but has also strengthened our resolve to continue delivering high-quality meteorological services to the nation.
“We are motivated and inspired by your collective efforts and pledge to continue our work with renewed hope, dedication, and enthusiasm”, the unions said.
Recall that the non-payment of the backlog to the workers since 2019 had generated tension in NiMet.
In May this year, the unions threatened to carry out industrial action over the wage debt, a development that unsettled the management of NiMet.
But the aviation committees of the National Assembly intervened and the unions suspended their planned strike.
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