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  • More feathers for Anosike as NiMet emerges among top 10 on ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity compliance scorecard

    More feathers for Anosike as NiMet emerges among top 10 on ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity compliance scorecard

    • By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

    A report making the rounds in the media has it that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has rated the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as one of the best performing institutions in the country, with a high mark of 82.65% on its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) for 2025.

    NiMet is the first and only agency in the entire aviation sector to receive this category of ranking and recognition as contained in a letter from ICPC, dated 29 December 2025 and ranked NiMet among the top 10 out of a total of 344 MDAs that were assessed nationwide, adding that the agency also made “Substantial Compliance,” emerging 11th out of 356 MDAs on the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI) where it garnered 82.50%.

    The letter said by its performance, NiMet earned a “Very Effective” status for its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU).

    Available records show that the ICPC EICS evaluation was based on key pillars of Management Culture and Structure; Financial Management Systems; Administrative Systems; and the effectiveness of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units, adding that it affirms the strength of the Agency’s compliance framework, governance mechanisms and the effectiveness of its operational systems.

    According to the letter, which was signed by the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, NiMet was commended for the structures and processes it has put in place to promote efficiency and integrity, while its Management was encouraged to sustain the standard achieved to ensure consistency in ratings and continued improvement in service delivery.

    Reacting to latest rating, the Director General/CEO of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, welcomed the development, saying however that it is rather a challenge for him and the management of the agency to do more. He said that NiMet remains committed to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and professionalism in the discharge of its mandate, and will continue to strengthen its institutional processes in line with national integrity standards.

    In 1968, a prolific Ghanaian author and poet, Ayi Kwei Armah, wrote that masterpiece titled- ‘The Beautiful Ones are Not Yet Born.’ While many, out of generations of literature students saw the work of fiction as a love story, the author was actually lamenting the absence of committed, disciplined and selfless leaders in his country and by extension, Africa. Back home, Nigeria has had more than a fair share of ugly ones- kindred of unserious, greedy and corrupt leaders without idea of how to positively impact the lives of the people they were meant to serve.

    But as they say in Nigeria, much water has passed under the bridge and change is here. Today, there are many well-educated, well-informed professionals serving as Chief Executive Officers, both in the private and public sectors, that are deploy their intellectual capacities, to transform organisations entrusted in their care. Prof. Charles Anosike is one of the beautiful ones.

    When Anosike assumed office as the CEO of NiMet in December 2023, he was confronted with several institutional challenges including lack of leadership drive, slow and ineffective migration to modern technologies and a demoralized workforce that were denied series of entitlements and claims.

    Within the past two years, Prof. Anosike has combined several ‘Cs’ of leadership- including competence, Courage, Consistency, Commitment, Character, Communication and Clarity to chart a new route of goal-setting and achievements for the organization. He has also Leveraged digital innovations and forged strategic partnerships with local and international institutions, to close critical gaps and achieved remarkable milestones for the organization.

    His ability to draw strength from a twin-chain that include inspiration from President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that hammers on providing best quality service to the people and submission to the strict supervisory approach of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, SAN, who does not brood indolence and would not suffer non-compliance to highest operational standards, has contributed in no small measures to the massive achievements recorded by NiMet’s management under his leadership.

    Read Also: Anosike’s Transformative Leadership and NiMet’s current global applause

    As it stands today, NiMet has witnessed series of transformations that have ensured Nigeria’s weather services are more accurate, reliable, and impactful than ever before. The agency actively works with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other partners to improve communication of climate information to the public as well as playing crucial role in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing essential data to combat desertification and restore land affected by drought, thereby establishing itself as an authority with clear understanding that its responsibilities go beyond daily weather reports, but include long-term climate and environmental protection.

    Identifying synergy with other organisations as essential to achieving set goals, Anosike’s management has signed partnerships agreement with sister government agencies as well as universities and research institutions within Nigeria and across the world. He sees these collaborations as vital in building a climate-resilient society and mitigating the impact of extreme weather.

    Among his most significant milestones is digitalization of operations as NiMet has replaced its traditional manual flight folder system with an electronic flight folder also known as e-flight folder.

    This cutting-edge tool provides virtual access to a comprehensive suite of flight briefing applications, including weather reports, to pilots and airlines, thereby facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing safety protocols.

    As at today, NiMet has a world-class weather presentation infrastructure which Anosike’s management upgraded to 4K resolution. The transformative initiative was achieved in partnership with global technology leader Chyron. The cutting-edge facility plays pivotal role in NiMet’s current weather presentation capabilities and therefore a critical milestone in the agency’s commitment to delivering world-class meteorological services.

    The agency has also completed full audit of dilapidated infrastructures and ill-conceived projects as well as unveiled the Aeronautical Meteorology Bulletin, a groundbreaking publication designed to promote a deeper understanding of meteorology in the aviation industry. The bulletin aims to empower airlines, pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground services to anticipate and manage weather-related challenges more effectively.

    Another area of pride for NiMet is the agency’s flagship product, the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), a vital early warning tool for farmers, livestock practitioners, and other sectors of the economy as well as the implementation of a co-production process, engaging relevant stakeholders in weather-sensitive sectors to craft informed, user-tailored weather forecasts. These forecasts are translated into Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Pidgin to enhance uptake and facilitate better planning and climate-smart decision-making.

    The agency also successfully launched a centralised Secure Aviation Data Information Service (SADIS) Application Programming Interface (API) platform aimed at boosting Aviation safety efficiency in Nigeria. It was part of the overall modernisation of the country’s aviation weather services with Nigeria becoming a trailblazer in Africa.

    Not long ago, NiMet took a major step toward sustainable innovation with the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) for airside operations across Nigeria’s five international airports — Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. The development marked the first deployment of EVs in the nation’s aviation sector, positioning NiMet at the forefront of environmental transformation and operational efficiency which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on clean energy and climate resilience. The vehicles are capable of covering up to 200 kilometers on a single charge and are supported by dedicated charging stations at each airport.

    Furthermore, NiMet and other stakeholders in the aviation industry concluded nationwide Quality Management System (QMS) Engagement across major airports as part of efforts to strengthen service delivery, improve aviation safety, and sustain its ISO 9001:2015 certification for aeronautical meteorological services.

    Also, NiMet, Sahel, IRI and Gates Foundation launched ‘ENACTS Initiative’ to strengthen access to climate data. The event held in Abuja under the Building Agricultural Systems Resilience in Nigeria Project financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and featured a Project Review Workshop with stakeholders across agriculture, health, water resources, blue economy and disaster management, among others.

    NiMet was also part of an Investor Roundtable hosted by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) to commemorate the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Preparers Readiness Programme and strengthen partnerships and networking for agencies with similar objectives.

    NiMet also entered into partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco on AI-Based Weather Forecast, Early Warning Systems at an event where Anosike and his Moroccan counterpart, Mohammed Dhkissi, pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven weather forecasting and early warning systems for enhanced climate resilience.

    To further bolster its ICT capacity aimed at greater efficiency, NiMet entered a strategic alliance with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) with Anosike saying the goal was to foster collaboration and explore strategic areas between the two key government institutions which aims to enhance the credibility of NiMet’s services.

    Simultaneously also, was the signing of MoU between NiMet Landmark University aimed at advancing meteorological research and deepening climate science education in Nigeria which seeks to enhance the collection and analysis of climate data and support initiatives that promote environmental resilience and sustainable national development.

    The standing ovations being given to NiMet at several national and international gatherings as well as awards and accolades, are part of the various testimonies of Anosike’s bold footprints at the agency.

    Within the past twenty-four months, Anosike has received several prestigious awards including “Best Federal MDA in Open Data Excellence” by Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards 2025 which also decorated him with the ‘Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer’s Award;’ ‘Aviation Sector CEO of the Year 2024;’ the 2025 ‘African Public Sector Leadership Impact Award’ for his transformational leadership, organized by the African Leadership Magazine at an event held in Casablanca, Morocco, where Anosike was honoured alongside other notable dignitaries including serving presidents of two African countries and the MD/CEO of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also honoured Anosike with ‘Outstanding Mentorship Award.’

    The emergence of NiMet among the top 10 out of 344 MDAs on ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) is a pleasant icing on the agency’s cake and a shouting testimony that a great future awaits NiMet and its staff while at the same time reinforces the hope of patriotic Nigerians that the the and is truly Green. 

  • NiMet Act amendment, Anosike’s quest for best quality service delivery 

    NiMet Act amendment, Anosike’s quest for best quality service delivery 

    By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

    Although Professor Charles Anosike has continued to receive commendations from workers, labour unions, journalists and others stakeholders for his exemplary leadership and huge achievements recorded within just one year and some months in office as the Director General/CEO, of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), his unquenchable appetite for excellence and to provide best quality service wherever he finds himself, are some of the factors behind NiMet management’s current efforts to amend the Agency’s establishment Act.

    Consequently, the House of Representatives on Monday, July 21, 2025, organized a Public Hearing on a bill initiated by its Committee on Aviation Technology which was sponsored by the former Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, seeking to provide clear and detailed framework for the Agency’s cost recovery across various sectors, especially for non-aviation bodies as well as strengthen NiMet’s capacities to fulfill its mandate, promote efficiency, improve infrastructure, ensure safety and enhance staff welfare.

    At the event, Anosike succinctly summed up the reason for seeking the amendment, saying the practice of cost recovery was an acceptable norm; and in line with global best practices. He stressed that it was a critical requirement for the sustainability of the Agency.

    He said- “The NiMet Bill, 2025 is principally about fulfilling the statutory responsibilities of the Agency and ensuring attendant costs for services rendered are duly recovered as envisaged by the Principal Act. This is crucial in order to ensure the Agency is self-sustaining, efficient, and responsive to national development needs, in line with its Mandate. We therefore respectfully request that the amendments proposed in the NiMet Bill be approved.”

    He said that although the NiMet Act was amended as recently as 2022 to strengthen the Agency’s legal and operational framework, the realities of implementation have revealed some gaps that hinder its full effectiveness and mentioned in particular, challenges in the areas of cost recovery, rulemaking, and compliance/enforcement.

    “We must acknowledge that no law, however well-conceived, can anticipate every future challenge at the time of enactment. Legal frameworks must therefore remain flexible and responsive to evolving needs, especially in rapidly changing, data-driven sectors such as meteorology. Against this backdrop, it is pertinent to note that NiMet has made significant progress over the years in enhancing the quality, accuracy, and reach of its services. Nevertheless, to keep pace with the growing demands of Nigeria’s dynamic economy and to ensure the long-term sustainability of its operations, it is imperative that the Agency be equipped with a strengthened legal framework that addresses existing gaps and aligns with both national development priorities and international best practices.

    “The Purpose of this presentation is simply to justify the amendments proposed in the NiMet Bill, 2025. Particularly, those geared towards the establishment of a cost recovery framework that ensures the sustainable delivery of critical meteorological services to sectors such as marine, construction and telecommunications. These amendments are intended to: Strengthen national meteorological infrastructure and resilience; Enhance safety, efficiency, and planning across sectors; Ensure that users of specialized meteorological services in the stated sectors pay costs associated with the provision of such services.”

    Anosike noted that while the current Act (Sections 7(1)(l) and 7(2)) empowers NiMet to issue meteorological information and to impose cost and sustainability recovery charges, it only provides a detailed framework for cost recovery within the aviation sector, adding that there is currently no equivalent mechanism for non-aeronautical sectors, resulting in unrecovered operational costs, increased pressure on government funding, poor infrastructural development and limited-service coverage.

    “It is also important to clarify that International best practices support cost recovery from specialized services. Both WMO Resolution 40 and Resolution 25 endorse cost recovery from commercial and non-core public good services.”

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudden Abbas, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Adewumi Onanuga (Ogun, APC), while declaring the public hearing open, reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to people-oriented legislature. He said critical and strategic MDAs such as NiMet, would be strengthened to ensure they have capacities for public growth, transparency and responsive to national needs, including climate changes and hazardous weather mitigation for safety of lives, especially vulnerable communities, among others.

    Others who attended the public hearing and gave overwhelming support for amendment of NiMet Act include representatives of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), NIMASA, FAAN, NCC, Trade Unions and three past Directors-General of NiMet, namely, Engr. Dr. Jide Adeniji, Dr. Anthony Anuforom and Professor Mansur Matazu as well as many former Directors of the Agency who made written and oral presentations. They all commended Prof. Anosike for the ongoing transformation in NiMet.

    Many of those who have worked with or currently working with Prof. Charles Anosike have described him as a workaholic and perfectionist. They also attribute the milestones recorded by NiMet management under Anosike’s leadership to his goal-achieving approach to work, making reference to his past successful career and achievements in both the public and private sectors and therefore his insatiable thirst for A-Grade results.

    Towards achieving its statutory mandate and self-set goals as well as surpass expectations of its various publics, including the federal government, the Anosike-led NiMet management has, in the last few months, initiated and implemented series of policies and programmes that are both innovative and forward-moving, in pursuit of excellence.

    The above include continuous training and retraining of workers so they can acquire additional skills and knowledge as well as signing of agreements and MoUs with local, regional and international organisations and bodies, among others.

    Within the period, the agency partnered with Korean Meteorological Administration, aimed at boosting Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based weather forecasting capacity; hosted the 14th meeting of ECOWAS Directors of Meteorological and Hydrological Services where agreement was reached to collaborate for enhancement of disaster preparedness among member countries. At the meeting, Prof. Anosike was elected President of the regional body.

    NiMet also received Automatic Weather stations from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); joined other stakeholders at the launch of the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM) which is an initiative of the Presidential Food Security Coordinating Unit (PFSCU NG) aimed to enhance agricultural productivity, stabilize food prices, and stimulate economic growth; and entered a partnership with IPE Global Limited, India, to explore avenues for collaboration in the dissemination of agro-meteorological information to stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.

    The agency has also assured Nigerians that it currently has world class forecast infrastructure following the unveiling of MeteoSat 3rd Generation Satellite system with advanced capabilities to provide quality data and higher resolution to improve weather forecasting.

    Professor Anosike gave the assurance while speaking at a meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, which had as its theme ‘Prevention and management of the devastating effect of flooding in Nigeria.’

    He said- “Our forecasts range from daily, weekly, and seasonal outlooks. Some of our products in support of flood risk management includes, daily weather outlooks, three days Impact-based forecasts, weekly heavy rainfall forecasts, rainfall intensity frequency duration curve, flash flood risk mapping, quarterly drought and flood monitoring bulletin and our flagship product- the seasonal climate prediction.”

    On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, NiMet hosted a delegation from the World Bank at its headquarters in Abuja. The meeting focused on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Nigeria.

    Read Also: NiMet predicts two-day heavy downpour in Niger, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi

    On July 2nd 2025, NiMet hosted a dialogue where Prof. Anosike reiterated the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media and civil society in order to enhance public awareness, preparedness, and resilience in the face of climate-related risks and extreme weather events.

    Anosike and some NiMet Directors, also inspected the on-going Safe Tower Upgrade at Abuja Airport with the installation of the ceilometers, transmissiometers lightning and thunderstorm detection systems, automatic weather stations and the complete solarisation of the systems for uninterrupted power supply.

    NiMet management also officially unveiled Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) technology developed by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). The system, donated to Nigeria and deployed by the African Union Commission (AUC) funding support from the European Union (EU), was formally presented at NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, May 5, 2025.

    The successful installation of the topnotch facility, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s weather monitoring and early warning infrastructure.

    At the occasion, Prof. Anosike described the MTG system as a transformative advancement in meteorological technology. He emphasized that its enhanced capabilities will greatly improve the resolution, frequency, and accuracy of weather data collection and forecasts, thereby strengthening early warning systems and national preparedness for extreme weather events.

    “The installation of the PUMA 2025 system is timely and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed commitment to modernizing weather services for the protection of lives and property. This is a critical step forward in our journey to ensure climate resilience in Nigeria,” the NiMet boss said.

    Melah is an Abuja based Journalist, Publisher and author.

  • Sanwo-Olu, Ribadu, Ogunsan, Anosike, others to speak at the launch of new Centre at UWE

    Sanwo-Olu, Ribadu, Ogunsan, Anosike, others to speak at the launch of new Centre at UWE

    UWE Bristol is set to officially launch the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET), a pioneering initiative designed to foster transformative partnerships across Africa and address some of the continent’s most pressing social and economic challenges.

    The Centre will be formally launched at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus on Thursday, 22 May at an event attended by international representatives from academia, government, and the private sector. 

    The launch will also feature the keynote address and investiture celebrating the appointment of His Excellency, Babajide Sanwa-Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State as the Centre’s Patron. Among other high-level dignitaries are Her Excellency, Professor Sarah Agbor, former African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) and Board Chair, Forum for Innovation in African Universities (FIAU); Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria, Mr Klaus Schneider, Executive Partner at Schneider and Schaeffer, Germany, and Vice Chancellors from various African countries.

    The newly appointed member of CASET’s Advisory Board, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, Chairman Executive Group and Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) will accompany the Governor to the launch along with other senior officials of the Lagos State government.

    CASET’s mission is to strengthen ties between African higher education institutions and University of the West of England (UWE), United Kingdom through capacity building, interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange, while removing barriers to higher education. 

    This will be achieved via transnational education (TNE) partnerships, providing African students access to high-quality, internationally-recognised learning with a focus on entrepreneurship and digital capability. 

    The establishment of CASET coincides with when many African Youths are disproportionately affected by unemployment compared to their global counterparts.  Through targeted entrepreneurship programmes, CASET is committed to bridging this gap and unlocking the continent’s full potential.

    Among CASET’s flagship initiatives is the British Council-funded ‘Bridging Borders Project (BBP)’, which is embedding startup ecosystems in University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Covenant University. Professor Paschal Anosike, the Founding Director of CASET and the Project Lead, commented: “By strengthening the capacity of 130+ higher education practitioners to integrate entrepreneurship into the curricula, fostering university-industry collaboration, and equipping over 120,000 students with startup skills, the BBP project aims to drive transformative change in Nigeria’s higher education systems through transnational education.” 

    Professor Anosike has been instrumental in driving the Centre’s establishment, while leading UWE’s ambition to expand in Africa through TNE partnerships. He brings unmatched experience in forging transformative partnerships across African higher education sector through capacity building, research, youth entrepreneurship programmes, and policymaking.

    Read Also: Hajj: Sanwo-Olu to bid pilgrims farewell on Sunday

    Professor Sir Steven West, the Vice Chancellor at UWE Bristol said: UWE Bristol recognises Africa as a thriving hub of youthful vibrancy, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. CASET will serve as our leading platform to unlock this potential through strategic partnerships, interdisciplinary research, and knowledge exchange, co-creating and fostering solutions to the continent’s most pressing challenges”.

    Jo Midgley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Registrar at UWE Bristol, added: “The establishment of CASET reinforces our commitment to tackling societal challenges through global collaboration. By focusing on the educational and employment needs of young people in Africa, CASET aligns perfectly with UWE Bristol’s ethos of innovation, inclusion and enterprise”.

    CASET also builds on UWE Bristol’s extensive social and cultural engagement including through The Daigo Project and Project Zulu, a UWE Bristol initiatives to address systemic vulnerabilities in The Gambia and South Africa, and supports leading academic work by Professor Peter Case and Professor Richard Bolden who are working with Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at the University of Pretoria to strengthen healthcare delivery and leadership systems in Africa.

  • FAAN MD Kuku pays courtesy visit to NiMet DG Anosike

    FAAN MD Kuku pays courtesy visit to NiMet DG Anosike

    In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, on Tuesday, December 10, paid a courtesy visit to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike.

    The meeting took place at NiMet headquarters in Abuja.

    Read Also: NiMet positioned to climate-proof economy, says DG Anosike

    This visit was aimed at fostering cooperation between the two agencies, which aims to enhance operational synergy and improve services in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

  • Anosike: NiMet positioned to safeguard economy through climate information

    Anosike: NiMet positioned to safeguard economy through climate information

    The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has stated that the agency is committed to climate-proofing the economy by providing timely weather and climate information.

    Prof. Anosike made this statement during a one-day workshop titled: “Understanding the Landscape of Agro-Meteorological Data Resources and Processes for Facilitating Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption,” which was co-hosted by NiMet and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Abuja on Monday, November 18, 2024.

    He explained that the workshop aims to help participants gain a better understanding of agro-meteorological advisories in Nigeria.

    “This is an important workshop that is aimed at building resilience among smallholder farmers and livestock keepers to increase productivity by Identifying adaptation options, best practices, and adaptation gaps for smallholder farmers. I am particularly grateful to the ILRI for co-hosting this event, as the event is coming at the right time when NiMet is working on a strategic design to explore the pastoralist landscape of Nigeria in a bid to strengthen engagement and ensure the development of early warning systems specifically for the sector to make it resilient and sustainable in advancing the UN EW4ALL initiative.”

    Prof. Anosike said that NiMet’s agrometeorological advisories have evolved in scope, including the concept of co-production which is supported by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

    Read Also: WMO concludes reaccreditation visit to NiMet’s RTC in Lagos

    “Co-production allows critical stakeholders to be part of the production process of weather and climate information to increase the depth and improve the accuracy and relevance of the information provided. The workshop allows critical stakeholders to map the climate information advisories that are critical to smallholder farmers, and livestock keepers”, Prof. Anosike concluded.

    Anthony Whitbread, Program leader, of livestock, climate, and environment at ILRI and one of the workshop facilitators said the workshop will improve the capacity of the participants, and help to identify gaps in information needs, data gathering, and the process of delivery of information to the last mile including gender and social inclusion.

    On her part, Rupsha Banerjee, Senior Scientist, Institutions and Innovation at ILRI listed the expected outcome of the workshop as the production of “Country profile and infographic in brief, the delivery of climate services via the public and private sector in Nigeria.”

  • FG pays 45-month minimum wage arrears to NiMet staff

    FG pays 45-month minimum wage arrears to NiMet staff

    The federal government has paid the 45-month minimum wage arrears owed to the staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

    The non-payment of the arrears which dates back to 2019, has led to friction between NiMet management, the staff of the agency, and the labour unions.

    The Director General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, thanked President Bola Tinubu for authorising payment of the arrears.

    The union had planned to embark on industrial action on Monday, May 20, 2024.

    They, however, suspended the proposed strike after an agreement was reached on Sunday, May 19, 2024, during a special session convened by the House Committee on Aviation Technology led by the Chairman, Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, with NiMet management and representatives of the unions present. 

    Prof. Anosike said: “Mr President has demonstrated once again that he is a worker-friendly president. The issue of the unpaid 45-month wage arrears predates this administration, but still, Mr. President has cleared the outstanding.

    “I thank the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development1, Festus Keyamo, for the role he played. Also the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, and members of the Committee for their sacrifices and timely intervention.

     “I thank the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, and the members of the Committee. I thank all the others who played different roles in the process. We expect that staff and the unions will show Mr. President appreciation by working hard and staying focused to ensure that NiMet continues to achieve its mandate.” 

    The staff of NiMet, through the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee (NJAC), also thanked President Tinubu, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Aviation, and the DG of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike. 

    Read Also: NiMet, Ogun govt sign MoU to build weather station at cargo airport

    In a statement on Monday signed by Secretary, NJAC, and Branch President of SSASCGOC of NiMet, Comrade Okechukwu Nwokoro, the unions expressed their gratitude for the collective intervention in ensuring the payment of the outstanding minimum wage arrears owed to NiMet staff from 2019 to 2022.

    It said that “this significant action has greatly alleviated the financial challenges faced by our workforce and has renewed our hope and commitment to serving the nation with excellence”.

    They also thanked NiMet DG for his leadership and relentless pursuit of the welfare of NiMet staff.

     “Your efforts to advocate on behalf of the employees and ensure that these arrears are paid reflects your deep commitment to the agency and its people.

    “We are fortunate to have a leader who places such high value on the welfare and morale of his team. The resolution of this issue has not only eased the financial burden on NiMet staff but has also strengthened our resolve to continue delivering high-quality meteorological services to the nation.

    “We are motivated and inspired by your collective efforts and pledge to continue our work with renewed hope, dedication, and enthusiasm”.

    “We extend our heartfelt thanks to each of you for your invaluable contributions to this cause. Your actions have made a significant difference in the lives of many, and for that, we are deeply appreciative”, the unions said.