President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received the Shield Award, the highest honour of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), in recognition of his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and efforts to improve conditions of service in the public sector.
The award was conferred on the President on Monday at Merit House, Abuja, as part of activities marking the union’s 114th anniversary. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, received the award on the President’s behalf.
The NCSU described Tinubu as a dependable defender of Nigerian workers, citing his administration’s interventions in salary reviews, minimum wage implementation and outstanding entitlements owed to former aviation workers.
Presenting the award, the union’s National President, Comrade Oluwole Sunday, said the honour was reserved for individuals who had demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to the advancement of Nigerian workers.
Sunday described the President as a true shield of the Nigerian worker, noting that his policies and interventions had helped boost morale in the civil service and demonstrated concern for workers’ welfare nationwide.
The presentation was led by the union’s leadership, including its immediate past president, Comrade Lawrence Ameachi, who chaired the occasion; the Chairman of the Federal Council, Comrade Adoga Gupada; and the Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Yildet Bigwan.
The union, which has 84 affiliates, is recognised as Nigeria’s oldest trade union, with a history spanning more than a century and predating the country’s independence. It has played a historic role in defending Nigerian workers, including confronting British colonial authorities over labour issues.
Speaking after receiving the award, Keyamo expressed delight at the recognition from an organisation he described as a historic pillar of the Nigerian labour movement. The minister was also acknowledged by the union for his continued solidarity with workers.
He said the President had consistently demonstrated concern for workers’ welfare, particularly by responding promptly to issues brought to his attention.
“I am excited because this is the oldest trade union in Nigeria, and you are still doing what you ought to do for the workers”, Keyamo said.
He cited the Federal Government’s approval of N36 billion for former aviation workers, disclosing that the disbursement process was at its final stage.
The minister also announced that a new salary structure had been approved for workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), resolving a salary relativity dispute that had remained unresolved for more than 15 years.
According to him, NiMet workers had been among the poorly paid employees in the aviation industry despite performing functions comparable to those of workers in other agencies.
Keyamo said the issue was presented to the President, who approved the new salary structure and directed the immediate release of funds.
“When I came to office, the NiMet workers were the most poorly paid, and there had been an issue of relativity because they perform almost the same functions in the aviation industry”, he said.
He added that the affected workers had begun receiving salary alerts following the approval.
The minister further highlighted the signing and implementation of a new national minimum wage in 2024, noting that the statutory period for reviewing the minimum wage had been reduced from five years to three years.
Keyamo said the revised review cycle meant that negotiations for another minimum wage would commence in 2027, subject to the applicable legal and negotiation processes.
“Before, the statutory period for review of the minimum wage was five years. President Tinubu said no, reduce it to three years” he said.
He expressed optimism that the next round of negotiations would provide another opportunity to review workers’ earnings in line with the new framework.
Keyamo said his ministry was also committed to promoting workers’ welfare in the aviation sector, arguing that the benefits and privileges enjoyed by top management should not come at the expense of employees’ well-being.
He stressed that improving workers’ conditions remained an ongoing responsibility, adding that the struggle to secure better welfare and working conditions for Nigerian workers would continue.
“The struggle for our workers will continue”, the minister declared.