NiMet Seeks Legal Backing to Boost Cost Recovery, Service Delivery

NiMet Seeks Legal Backing to Boost Cost Recovery, Service Delivery

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) recently intensified call for legislative amendments to its Establishment Act to enable it recover costs for services rendered across various sectors, especially beyond aviation, thereby improving infrastructure, service delivery, and staff welfare.

This was the thrust of a public hearing held at the National Assembly on a bill seeking to amend the NiMet Act of 2022.

The bill, sponsored by former Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, proposes a clear legal framework to empower NiMet to charge appropriately for its services across different arms of the economy.

Addressing the session, the Director-General/CEO of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, stated that cost recovery is not just necessary but globally recognized as vital to the sustainability of national meteorological agencies.

“For NiMet to deliver on its expanding mandate,especially in an era of climate uncertainty, it must be able to recover operational costs, particularly from non-aviation users who rely heavily on our data,” he said.

The House Committee on Aviation Technology, which convened the hearing, hosted a wide range of stakeholders including officials from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), NIMASA, FAAN, NCC, organized labour, and former NiMet Director-Generals, Engr. Jide Adeniji, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, and Professor Mansur Matazu.

In his opening remarks, the Speaker of the House, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to empowering Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) like NiMet to better serve the Nigerian public. He stressed that the amendment would enable NiMet to tackle national challenges, including climate change and hazardous weather, while enhancing support for vulnerable communities.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun, in his closing address, assured all contributors that their positions, both written and oral, would be carefully considered.

He emphasized NiMet’s crucial role in safeguarding lives on land, in the air, and at sea, calling on all stakeholders to support the Agency’s evolution into a more efficient, self-sustaining institution.

The proposed amendment is expected to enhance NiMet’s legal standing in a growing number of economic sectors where accurate meteorological data has become indispensable for safety, planning, and productivity.