The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), a crucial agency under the Ministry of Aviation, is facing an escalating crisis as staff decry low wages, inadequate allowances, and poor working conditions. Despite being responsible for providing meteorological services vital for safe air navigation, NiMet workers are among the least paid in the aviation sector.
Salary Disparities: NiMet at the Bottom of Aviation Pay Scale
NiMet employees earn significantly lower salaries compared to their counterparts in other aviation agencies such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). A Grade Level 4 Step 2 staff member at NiMet earns a mere N31,800, while a Grade Level 8 Step 2 staff earns less than N100,000. In stark contrast, a Deputy General Manager at NiMet (Grade Level 16) takes home about N400,000, whereas similar roles in FAAN, NCAA, or NAMA attract salaries between N1,200,000 – N1,500,000 monthly.
This extreme salary gap has left virtually all NiMet staff burdened with loans, struggling to keep up with the increasing cost of living. Employees across various levels are trapped in a cycle of financial instability, making it difficult for them to focus effectively on their work.
Lack of Adequate Conditions of Service
For years, NiMet employees had no official Conditions of Service (COS). It was only in January 2024 that a proper COS was implemented. Even then, the financial components remain grossly inadequate. Former DG/CEO, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi, introduced a COS without financial provisions, rendering it nearly useless. His successor, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, added a 7.5% allowance plus a hazard allowance of N10,000 monthly (N120,000 annually). However, the soaring inflation in 2024 has made these allowances almost meaningless.
NiMet workers receive none of the allowances granted to other aviation agencies, including:
- Children Education Allowance
- Furniture Allowance
- Wardrobe Allowance
- Leave Allowance
- Hardship Allowance
- Acting Allowance
The demand for a review of the COS has been met with resistance from management, using delay tactics to stall negotiations.
Outdated Salary Structure: 18 Years Without Review
NiMet operates under the CONIMET Salary Structure, which has remained unchanged for nearly two decades. Unlike other salary structures that are revised alongside federal government wage adjustments, CONIMET has been left stagnant. Whenever a new minimum wage is approved, NiMet employees face lengthy delays before seeing any implementation.
- Under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, a 56% salary increase was approved, but NiMet only received 26%.
- During Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, NiMet workers got only 10% of the approved minimum wage increase, while Grade Level 15-17 staff were completely excluded.
- The 2019 minimum wage took NiMet four years to implement, with arrears for nine months still unpaid.
- The recent N40,000 wage increase by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not been reflected in NiMet salaries to date.
Unpaid Allowances and Unfulfilled Agreements
NiMet staff are yet to receive several government-approved allowances:
- 40% Peculiar Allowance for civil servants remains unpaid.
- 25%-35% Federal Government Salary Allowance has not been disbursed.
- Transport Allowance or provision of staff buses, which was agreed upon with NiMet unions, has not been implemented.
Neglect of Staff Training: A Threat to National Aviation Safety
One of the most critical issues plaguing NiMet is the near-total neglect of staff training and retraining, particularly for the Aeronautical Meteorology Unit (Aeromet Unit), which generates over 90% of NiMet’s internally generated revenue (IGR). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates that Aeromet staff undergo 80% annual training, but NiMet has not achieved even 6% in the last 10 years.
Instead of prioritizing the training of critical personnel, management diverts funds to departments that have little impact on aviation safety. The following units receive the majority of training allocations:
- Numerical Weather Prediction (MWP) Unit
- Air Quality Unit
- Applied Meteorological Services Directorate
- SCP Unit
- Public Weather Unit
Meanwhile, Aeromet staff work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, without public holidays, weekends, or breaks—even during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Many suffer from high blood pressure due to long night shifts (14-hour shifts with continuous weather observation) and eye problems from constant exposure to the sun while observing the atmosphere.
Additionally, forecasting and observation equipment at various forecast offices are either obsolete or completely absent, contributing to the increasing inaccuracies in NiMet’s weather predictions.
Aeromet Unit: The Backbone of NiMet, Yet Neglected
The Aeromet Unit plays a vital role in aviation safety, providing crucial meteorological services for flight operations. Despite generating nearly all of NiMet’s IGR, this unit is the most neglected:
- Minimal reinvestment: Less than 2% of Aeromet’s revenue is reinvested in the unit, contrary to the standard cost recovery model.
- No proper training: Most Aeromet staff attend only one training session—the so-called “refresher course”—in their entire career spanning over 20 years.
- Lack of equipment: Forecasting and observation tools are missing from most offices, forcing staff to rely on outdated methods.
A Looming Crisis: Urgent Action Needed
The poor treatment of NiMet staff poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s aviation sector. Without immediate intervention, the agency risks losing its most skilled professionals, further deteriorating service quality and endangering flight safety.
To address these issues, the federal government and NiMet management must:
- Implement fair salary adjustments comparable to other aviation agencies.
- Revise and enhance Conditions of Service (COS) to include essential allowances.
- Review and upgrade the CONIMET salary structure, aligning it with modern economic realities.
- Pay outstanding allowances, including the 40% Peculiar Allowance and the 25%-35% federal salary increment.
- Prioritize staff training and reinvest Aeromet’s revenue into the unit.
- Provide modern forecasting and observation equipment to improve weather predictions.
Without these urgent interventions, NiMet staff will continue to struggle under unbearable working conditions, ultimately putting Nigeria’s air safety at risk. The time for action is now.
