The Federal Government has cleared the 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to staff members of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
The debt, which dates back from 2019 to 2022, has been finally settled.
The Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving the payment.
Anosike said in a statement on Monday: “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.”
He also extended his appreciation to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the chairpersons and members of the House of Representatives and Senate committees on Aviation, for their roles in facilitating the payment.
He called on NiMet staff and unions to reciprocate the gesture through renewed dedication to their duties.
“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,” Anosike stated
Similarly, the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC), further expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and other key persons involved in the resolution.
In a joint statement signed by the NJAC Secretary, Okechukwu Nwokoro, and the President of SSASCGOC NiMet branch, the unions acknowledged the positive impact the payment will have on the staff’s morale and financial well-being.
“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.
The non-payment of the arrears had previously caused tension within NiMet, leading to threats of industrial action by the unions in May this year.
However, following the intervention of the National Assembly’s aviation committees, the planned strike was suspended, which paved way for the eventual settlement.
FG Pays NiMet Staff 45-Month Minimum Wage Arrears is first published on The Whistler Newspaper