By Ameh Gabriel
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is seeking legislative support to amend its Establishment Act in a bid to enhance its cost recovery mechanisms and improve service delivery across sectors. This development emerged during a public hearing held on July 22, 2025, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The hearing, organized by the House Committee on Aviation Technology, focused on a bill sponsored by Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, a former Chair of the Committee. The proposed amendments aim to update the 2022 version of NiMet’s Establishment Act by providing a more comprehensive framework that allows the agency to recover costs particularly from non-aviation sectors benefiting from its services.
In his presentation, the Director-General and CEO of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, stressed the need for the amendment, stating that cost recovery is an internationally recognized model essential for operational sustainability. According to him, the new provisions would enable NiMet to deliver on its core mandate more efficiently, improve infrastructure, enhance staff welfare, and maintain safety standards across the board.
The hearing drew broad stakeholder participation, including representatives from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), organized labor, and former NiMet Director-Generals Engr. Dr. Jide Adeniji, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, and Professor Mansur Matazu. Many contributed written and oral inputs to the proposed amendment.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the House, the Deputy Chief Whip reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to supporting reforms that empower MDAs like NiMet to address climate change, enhance public safety, and improve national resilience to extreme weather events.
In his closing remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun, pledged that all contributions would be carefully reviewed to produce amendments aligned with legal standards and national development goals. He emphasized the critical role NiMet plays in safeguarding lives and assets on land, sea, and air, urging collective support for the agency’s advancement.
