Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have raised alarm over poor wages, inadequate training, and harsh working conditions, describing their current situation as a crisis that threatens the agency’s effectiveness.
NiMet, which plays a crucial role in providing weather and climate services across the country, is reportedly the lowest-paying agency within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
A staff member, speaking to Chronicles Reporters on Wednesday, disclosed that a Grade Level 4, Step 2 worker earns as little as ₦31,800 per month, while a Grade Level 8, Step 2 employee receives less than ₦100,000. Even senior officers at Grade Level 16 reportedly earn about ₦400,000, which is significantly lower than their counterparts in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), where salaries range between ₦1.2 million and ₦1.5 million.
Due to these low wages, many NiMet workers are forced to take loans to meet their basic needs, as their earnings fail to keep up with the rising cost of living. Employees lament that the CONIMET salary structure, which has been in place for nearly two decades, has remained unchanged, leaving them financially strained as inflation continues to rise.
The workers also expressed frustration over the federal government’s failure to fully implement salary adjustments. They noted that every minimum wage review—from the administrations of Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari and now Bola Tinubu—has either been delayed or only partially executed for NiMet staff.
“For instance, the 2019 minimum wage increase under Buhari was only implemented in 2023, and even then, nine months’ worth of arrears remains unpaid. Similarly, the ₦40,000 temporary wage award introduced by the Tinubu administration to cushion economic hardship has yet to reflect in our salaries,” one worker stated.
Additionally, NiMet employees have not received several allowances approved by the federal government. These include the 40% peculiar allowance for civil servants, a 25%-35% salary increase, and transport allowances or staff buses, despite agreements between the agency’s management and labor unions.
The workers further criticized the agency’s poor Condition of Service (COS), which for years offered no financial benefits. They revealed that the revised COS, implemented in January 2024, only provides a 7.5% salary allowance and a flat hazard allowance of ₦10,000 per month—an amount they describe as grossly inadequate.
Unlike their counterparts in other agencies, NiMet staff do not receive essential benefits such as children’s education allowances, furniture allowances, wardrobe allowances, leave allowances, hardship allowances, or acting allowances. Training opportunities are also limited, especially for those in the Aeronautical Meteorology (Aeromet) Unit, which generates over 90% of NiMet’s revenue.
The Aeromet Unit, responsible for providing critical weather forecasts for aviation safety, operates 24/7, including on public holidays and during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their essential role, these workers do not receive extra compensation.
Furthermore, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines require that at least 80% of Aeromet staff undergo annual training, but NiMet has failed to reach even 6% in any year over the past decade. Many Aeromet employees reportedly attend only one training session throughout their careers, unlike workers in other units such as Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), Air Quality, and Applied Meteorological Services, who receive regular training, including foreign courses.
Prolonged night shifts and constant exposure to harsh weather conditions have also taken a toll on Aeromet workers’ health, with many suffering from high blood pressure and eye problems. Additionally, the lack of basic equipment in forecasting offices is affecting the accuracy of NiMet’s weather predictions.
In light of these issues, NiMet employees are demanding an urgent salary review, full implementation of all government-approved allowances, and a comprehensive overhaul of the agency’s training programs, particularly for Aeromet staff.
They warn that the continued neglect of training and the absence of modern forecasting equipment could have severe consequences for aviation safety and the reliability of Nigeria’s meteorological services.
As economic challenges worsen across the country, the workers are calling on the federal government and NiMet management to address their grievances before the situation escalates into a full-blown crisis.
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