The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has met with striking employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) who are protesting over unfavorable working conditions.

The meeting, which is taking place in Abuja, was convened to address several grievances raised by the workers, including the failure to implement the new national minimum wage, the exclusion of certain staff from previously paid allowances, and the lack of essential training programs, among other issues.

Present at the meeting are the Director General of NiMET, officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Union of Transport Employees, and other major stakeholders in the aviation sector.

Following a short opening session, the discussions continued behind closed doors.

Several labor unions are also participating in the ongoing talks, such as the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the **National Union of Air Transport Employees, among others.

The ongoing strike by NiMET personnel has already caused significant disruptions to domestic flight operations across the country.

In response, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, has announced the suspension of all flights nationwide. The decision, which came just two days after the strike began, was made in light of growing safety concerns.

In a viral video, Onyema can be heard stating:
“If NiMET hasn’t called off the strike, cancel every Air Peace flight immediately. The safety of our passengers, crew, and equipment is our top priority. I don’t care if other airlines are still flying. We’re seeing thunderstorms everywhere, and without weather updates from NiMET, we cannot operate safely. Suspend all flights until further notice. Safety first.”