The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) has conferred its prestigious Shield Award on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recognition of his commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The honour was presented on Monday as part of activities marking the union’s 114th anniversary.

The Shield Award is the union’s highest honour and is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to the advancement of Nigerian workers.

According to a statement signed by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the award was received on behalf of the President by Keyamo at Merit House, Abuja.

The minister later displayed the award in his office alongside the leadership of the union.

The presentation was led by the union’s National President, Comrade Oluwole Sunday, and attended by the immediate past President, Comrade Lawrence Ameachi, who also served as Chairman of the occasion; Comrade Adoga Gupada, Chairman of the Federal Council, Nigeria Civil Service Union; and Comrade Yildet Bigwan, Assistant General Secretary.

In conferring the honour on Tinubu, Oluwole described the President as a true shield of the Nigerian worker and a leader whose policies have consistently prioritised the interests of the labour force.

The union said the President’s interventions had boosted morale within the civil service and demonstrated concern for the welfare of workers across the country.

The NCSU, which has 84 affiliates, is Nigeria’s oldest trade union, with a history spanning more than a century and predating the creation of Nigeria as a nation.

The union is widely regarded as having confronted British colonial authorities in defence of Nigerian workers.

Receiving the award on behalf of the President, Keyamo expressed excitement at the honour from what he described as the oldest trade union in Nigeria.

The minister, who was also recognised by the union for his continued solidarity with the Nigerian workforce, highlighted what he described as Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

“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 the President had consistently shown compassion towards workers and acted swiftly whenever issues concerning their welfare were brought to his attention.

He recalled that Tinubu had recently approved the disbursement of N36 billion to former aviation workers, adding that payment was already at its final stage.

The minister also disclosed that a new salary structure had been approved for workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), resolving a relativity dispute that had lasted 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.”

Keyamo: New Minimum Wage Review Due In 2027

Keyamo also recalled that Tinubu signed a new minimum wage into law in 2024 and reduced the statutory review period from five years to three years.

“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 the same concern for workers’ welfare was being reflected in his ministry’s approach to the aviation sector.

He said he had consistently maintained that it was unfair to neglect workers’ welfare while top management staff enjoyed unnecessary perks.

The minister, however, noted that 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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