Ime Akpan
The director general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Sani Mashi has said that the agency’s strategic programme is to be a leader in the provision of meteorological services on the African continent.
Mashi who made the declaration in Abuja recently said NiMet had increased the density of the meteorological observation stations from 54 to over 150.
“This will broaden the services of the agency to cover greater areas of the country, with seasoned and experienced officers deployed to man the new stations,” he said.
Furthermore, he said NiMet, through its department of applied meteorological services, was working towards providing sector – specific services such as the agro-meteorology and hydro- meteorology that will meet the critical needs of Nigeria.
“This development will not only ensure improved services to the teeming population of the nation, but will support government’s policy on food security and diversification of the economy through its various agricultural programmes and interventions. It will also provide early warning advisories and mitigation,” he said.
On staff welfare, spokesman for the agency, Mr. Muntari Yusuf said in a statement that about 400 NiMet staff were promoted between 2018 and April 2019.
The most recent took place in April when 35 staff were promoted to different substantive managerial posts
The exercise affected assistant general managers, deputy general managers and general managers.
Yusuf said the promotion was in line with the director general’s commitment to staff welfare, training and capacity building which had been decentralised for more effective and timely implementation.
He also said NiMet recorded 100 per cent payment of ex-gratia in 2018.
Furthermore, he said the agency had begun the payment of staff relativity allowance, which remained unpaid since 2011.
“There has been a remarkable improvement in the payment of staff claims.
“Not resting on its oars in boosting staff morale and well-being, the management (of the agency) has initiated a staff housing project that will ensure housing for all interested NiMet staff at affordable cost,” he added.
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