AUPCTRE threatens to picket NiMet over appointment of non-professionals

The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has condemned the appointments of non-career professionals into technical and scientific directorate positions in the National Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The union, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting noted that the act would hinder productivity, professionalism and demoralise career professionals in the agency.

It said industrial harmony may be threatened if the Federal Government fails to respect its position, saying, “As failure to do so may lead to non-sustainability of existing industrial harmony in the agency.”

AUPCTRE, however, called on the Federal Government to urgently reverse the appointment made by the Minister of State for Aviation due to the peculiarity and technicalities of meteorology into the directorates of Weather Forecasting Services; Applied Meteorological Services; Research and Training, as well as Engineering and Technical Services.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by its General Secretary, Yusuf Zambuk, stressed that it was the opinion of the union that the appointed directors were novices in the system and therefore insist that the ministry reverses the positions, especially the professional cadre.

The union hinted that several letters have been written to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of State for Aviation and the Minister of Labour and Employment, which are yet to receive a response.

“We, therefore, demand an immediate reversal of the appointments because as a union, we cannot fold our hands and watch strange individuals imposed on our members,” it stated.