Staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency finally received payment of the new minimum wage and salary adjustments in May, following weeks of industrial action and negotiations.
An official of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals confirmed that the implementation of the new minimum wage and salary increment for aviation workers was successfully carried out in May, while arrears are expected to be paid by the end of July due to technical delays.
Speaking on the gradual progress of workers’ demands, the official explained that unresolved issues had been clearly communicated to the Director-General of the aviation authority.
“So, we just noted all the items that have not been resolved yet and told the Director-General to take note and start going to the relevant authorities to make sure that the things we are requesting are being done, for example, the implementation of a new minimum wage,” the official said.
According to the source, intervention by the aviation minister played a key role in facilitating the implementation: “It was the minister that called DG personally; after the meeting, they called DG and told them to go to the Accountant General’s office, do whatever they need to do, and make sure that our money comes this May.”
The official confirmed that the payment came through as instructed: “Fortunately for us, it happened like that; that was the implementation.”
On other pending matters, the official noted that the new condition of service had already been signed by the DG and forwarded to the Minister, who would now move it to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for approval: “So the condition of service is already done; the DG has signed and given it to the Minister, so the Minister will be the one to take it to the Salary Wages Commission for approval.”
The official reiterated that progress is ongoing, stating, “Most of our requests gradually are being answered. I don’t know what you need to know in particular.”
The payment process, according to the official, began with the subsistence allowance, followed by the full implementation of the minimum wage.
He explained, “The subsistence allowance was the first payment we got, and after that subsistence allowance, we then got the implementation of the new minimum wage.”
Details of the increment included a new minimum wage and a tiered raise in salaries across levels.
He added, “It was 25–35 per cent increments then N70,000 minimum wage. They calculated it. All the levels vary. The lower the levels, the higher the percentage. Then the higher the level, the lower the percentage.
“Each level got their own percentage. Some levels got 33%. It depends on the level. But it’s only the junior that benefited more than the senior staff.”
While the new wage and percentage increases were applied in May, arrears expected by the end of June have been delayed due to a system upgrade.
The N70,000 minimum wage and the 25–35 per cent salary increment were what were implemented in the month of May, and the arrears were supposed to come this June ending. But unfortunately, I think IPPIS is having a system upgrade. So I think the arrears will be coming in by the end of July,” the official explained.
Recall that NiMet staff went on a nationwide strike in May 2024 over unpaid wage arrears and poor working conditions.
Some of the unions, including NUATE, AUPCTRE, and ANAP, issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding payment of 45 months’ minimum wage arrears dating back to 2019.
The ultimatum cited poor working conditions, unresolved staff welfare issues, and the non-implementation of approved financial benefits as major concerns.
Despite several letters, meetings, and promises, staff had yet to receive the statutory adjustments to their salaries or subsistence allowances, leading to heightened tensions in the agency.
The Punch
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