Six months after Nigeria’s meteorological agency employees suspended a strike, aviation unions are now issuing a fresh warning: failure to honor outstanding agreements could provoke a return to industrial action.
Unions’ demands remain unresolved
In a letter dated October 2, 2025, the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Odinaka Igbokwe, and the Secretary General of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Abdul Rasaq Saidu, alerted the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that critical issues remain unresolved. Among them: nine months of unpaid 2019 minimum wage arrears and the payment for 30 staff whose wage entitlements were omitted.
If these matters are not resolved by Wednesday of next week, the unions warned, they will resume strike action.
Background: earlier strike and government intervention
Workers at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had launched a strike on April 22, 2025, over conditions including pay relativity adjustments, implementation of minimum wage, wage arrears, allowances, and contract staffing. Two days later, on April 24, the minister intervened. A resolution was signed, and the strike was suspended.
Lingering issues and mounting urgency
The unions, however, say that despite repeated interventions and assurances, delays persist. Their grievances include nonpayment of wage arrears, omission of staff in the 2019 wage structure, failure to adopt salary relativity, and noncompliance with official circulars regarding contract staff appointments.
They expressed frustration with what they see as unfulfilled promises: “These issues have lingered for too long … the workers have demonstrated enough maturity. But their patience has now run out.”
Ultimatum and next steps
The unions set an ultimatum: if Keyamo’s office fails to address the outstanding matters by October 15, 2025, the suspended strike will resume. Given the critical nature of aviation services and the potential disruptions, the warning carries significant weight for stakeholders in the sector.
