By Our Correspondent
Kano, Nigeria – April 23, 2025
Scores of air travelers were left stranded on Wednesday at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport following a protest by staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage.
The protest, which began early Wednesday morning, disrupted several scheduled flights as NiMet employees downed tools, demanding the immediate implementation of the N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wage structures.
An airport official, who spoke to NEWSPOINTER Online on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the demonstration caused widespread delays and cancellations.
“As you know, flights are determined by weather, and NiMet is the agency providing weather information to pilots,” the source said. “So, though some flight operations are still ongoing, the protest has affected many flights.”
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the protest left numerous passengers stranded, with many expressing frustration over the lack of prior notice and alternative arrangements.
Timothy Meshelia, Northwest Zonal Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, confirmed the protest and outlined the workers’ grievances.
“The protesting staff are accusing the management of NiMet of failing to implement the N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wage, non-payment of staff allowances, ignoring requests to include omitted staff in past payments, and neglecting key training programmes, among other issues,” Meshelia stated.
He added that the union has given the agency’s management a one-month ultimatum to meet the demands or face a full-blown industrial action.
The workers are also demanding the payment of a subsistence allowance as previously agreed upon, citing rising economic hardship among staff.
As of the time of this report, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Kano had not issued an official statement on the incident.
For more updates, follow The Newspointer on X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
Contact Us: ✉️ Email: humtarosamson@gmail.com
📞 Tel: +2348138465350 or 07071144444
Online Editor: Humtaro S. Humtaro
© 2024 TheNewspointer.com.ng – All Rights Reserved.
