Tensions flared this week at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) following the emergence of a formal request from Nigeria’s top financial crimes watchdog seeking information on agency contracts and financial dealings under the current leadership.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a letter dated March 28 and signed by a senior investigator, directed NiMet to provide detailed records of its contracts, vendors, procurement processes, and financial accounts spanning the last two years.
The communication, quietly circulated, nonetheless triggered a sharp reaction within the agency, culminating in a two-day work stoppage by staff.
The EFCC’s request, seen as part of a wider review of public spending in government agencies, immediately drew the attention of aviation sector stakeholders. Union members under the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) accused the management of side-stepping due process in contract handling and failing to maintain transparency around internally generated revenue.
“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly,” said a union representative who asked not to be named. “Essential weather services were disrupted, but our members felt they had no alternative after months of silence from leadership.”
As services ground to a halt affecting both aviation safety and agricultural forecasting, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, swiftly convened an emergency meeting.
Both NiMet executives and labour leaders were summoned, with Keyamo urging calm and assuring all parties that due process would be followed.
While the EFCC’s letter outlines its statutory right to request information as part of its investigative duties, it does not suggest criminal charges or issue any direct accusations. Nonetheless, the timing of the request barely four months into the tenure of NiMet Director-General, Professor Charles Anosike has stirred speculation and public interest.
NiMet’s spokesperson, Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, issued a clarification stating that the agency views the EFCC’s document demand as a “routine procedure,” emphasizing that it spans contracts awarded even before the current leadership assumed office in December 2023.
“No one in our team has been invited for questioning. We are cooperating fully and transparently,” Ibrahim said.
He criticized what he described as “sensational coverage” that painted the inquiry as a scandal tied directly to the present administration. “This is part of institutional oversight. We welcome it.”
The situation at NiMet serves as a reminder of rising demands for accountability in public institutions, especially those playing strategic roles in national infrastructure, security, and agriculture.
While investigations remain ongoing, observers say the outcome may set new standards for transparency and internal governance in federal agencies.
