Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have called off their strike action following the intervention of the Federal Government.

The industrial action, which disrupted flight operations across the country on Thursday, was prompted by grievances over poor working conditions, non-implementation of the new national minimum wage, exclusion of some staff from past allowances, and the neglect of critical training programmes.

After a meeting in Abuja with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the workers agreed to suspend the strike.

Also in attendance were the Director-General of NiMet, officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and representatives of various aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals.

Flight operations at domestic airports had been severely affected by the two-day strike, leaving passengers stranded at major terminals such as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, suspended its operations during the strike, citing safety concerns. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, had ordered a nationwide flight cancellation on Wednesday.

“If NiMet hasn’t called off the strike, cancel every Air Peace flight immediately,” Onyema said. “The lives of our passengers and the safety of our crew and equipment come first. Other airlines may be flying, but we will not compromise safety. With thunderstorms everywhere and NiMet unavailable to provide essential weather updates, it would be irresponsible to operate flights.”

He ordered a suspension of all Air Peace operations until the strike was officially over.