Kano, Nigeria – Operations at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) were temporarily halted on Wednesday as protesting workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) caused widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The workers, led by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, were demanding the immediate implementation of the new national minimum wage, which they claim has yet to be enforced by the NiMet management.
A source at the airport revealed that the union forcibly removed NiMet staff from their offices and locked the manager of the Kano office inside, after he refused to vacate the premises in protest over the wage issue. “Flights are heavily influenced by weather reports, and NiMet is responsible for providing pilots with the necessary weather information. While some flights continued, many were disrupted,” the source explained.
Timothy Meshelia, Northwest Zonal Chairman of the union, confirmed that the protest had significantly impacted flight schedules. He accused the NiMet management of failing to implement the N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wage for staff, neglecting to pay allowances, and ignoring requests to include omitted staff in past wage payments. The workers are also protesting the management’s failure to organize essential training programs.
“The union has given the management one month to implement the new minimum wage or face further industrial action,” Meshelia stated.
As of the latest reports, airport officials had yet to issue a formal statement. However, sources confirm that normal operations have resumed at the airport, following the resolution of the protest.
