By Nathaniel Irobi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been honoured with the Shield Award, the highest accolade of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), which described him as a true shield of the Nigerian worker.
The award was conferred on Monday at Merit House, Abuja, during the union’s 114th anniversary celebrations, in recognition of what the NCSU called the President’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers. The Shield Award is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to the advancement of the labour force.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN), received the award on the President’s behalf, which was later displayed in his office alongside the union’s leadership.
Speaking at the presentation, NCSU National President Comrade Oluwole Sunday said Tinubu’s policies had consistently prioritised the interests of workers. The union said his interventions had lifted morale within the civil service and reflected genuine concern for workers’ welfare across the country.
The NCSU, which has 84 affiliates, is Nigeria’s oldest trade union. Its history spans more than a century and predates the creation of Nigeria as a nation, and it is widely remembered for confronting British colonial authorities in defence of Nigerian workers.
Others at the event included immediate past President Comrade Lawrence Ameachi, who served as Chairman of the Occasion, Federal Council Chairman Comrade Adoga Gupada, and Assistant General Secretary Comrade Yildet Bigwan.
Receiving the award, Keyamo said he was excited by the recognition from the union, noting its long history and its continued defence of workers’ interests.
“I got an invitation from the oldest trade union in Nigeria. You don’t understand, the oldest trade union, the trade union that confronted the British colonialists, is still standing on its feet today. That is the union you see here. 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,” he said.
Keyamo said Tinubu had shown consistent compassion for workers and acted quickly whenever welfare matters reached him. He cited two recent decisions as evidence: the President’s approval of N36 billion for former aviation workers, with payment now at its final stage, and the approval of a new salary structure for staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which ended a relativity dispute that had persisted for more than 15 years.
“As at last week, what we cried to Mr. President for regarding the NiMet workers was an issue of relativity. When I came to office, the NiMet workers were the most poorly paid, and there has been an issue of relativity in respect of the NiMet workers because they perform almost the same functions in the aviation industry,” he said.
“This matter had been pending for more than 15 years. We went to Mr. President. Let me tell you something about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: all we need to do is tell him that the matter concerns the welfare of workers. He asks, ‘What can we do for them?’ The issue of relativity that had not been addressed for more than a decade, last week, they started receiving alerts. President approved their new salary structure. Not only that, he immediately ordered the release of funds.”
The Minister also recalled that Tinubu signed a new minimum wage in 2024 and reduced the statutory review period from five years to three.
“Don’t forget that it was when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power that he signed a new minimum wage in 2024 and sent it to the National Assembly, and it was implemented. But also remember that before, the statutory period for review of minimum wage was five years. President Tinubu said no, reduce it to three years,” he said.
“I am happy to tell you that next year, just next year, the negotiation for a new minimum wage will begin. That is the three-year circle from 2024 to 2027. So in 2027, you are entitled to a new minimum wage. By law and by the grace of God, and with the thinking of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, what was done in 2024 will come to pass in 2027. You will have negotiations on the new minimum wage.”
Keyamo said his ministry was applying the same approach to workers’ welfare in the aviation sector, arguing that it was unfair for top management to enjoy unnecessary perks while workers were neglected. He, however, said the struggle for workers’ welfare was not over.
“Like we said in our song, the struggle for our workers will continue,” he said.
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