The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology has convened a public hearing on a bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Establishment) Act, 2022.
The bill, sponsored by former Chair of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Mr Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, aims to provide a clear framework for NiMet’s cost recovery across various sectors of the economy, particularly non-aviation sectors.
The proposed amendment seeks to strengthen NiMet’s capacity to fulfil its mandate, promote efficiency, enhance infrastructure, ensure safety, and improve staff welfare.
Declaring the hearing open, the Speaker of the House, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Isiaka, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to a people-oriented legislature.
“We remain committed to ensuring that agencies like NiMet have the capacity to support national growth, uphold transparency, respond effectively to climate change and hazardous weather, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities,” he stated.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun, assured stakeholders that the committee would carefully consider all oral and written submissions before delivering amendments aligned with the law.
He stressed the importance of NiMet’s mandate in ensuring the safety of lives on land, in the air, and at sea — a task he said requires collective responsibility.
Director-General/CEO of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, in his presentation, emphasised that cost recovery is a globally accepted practice and vital for the Agency’s sustainability.
“Cost recovery ensures that NiMet remains effective in fulfilling its statutory functions and in providing services essential to various sectors of the economy,” Professor Anosike stated.
The hearing attracted stakeholders from across socio-economic sectors, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), trade unions, and former NiMet Director-Generals — Engr. Jide Adeniji, Dr Anthony Anuforom, and Professor Mansur Matazu.
PIAK