THE NIGERIA Civil Service Union (NCSU) has conferred its prestigious Shield Award on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recognition of what the union described as his commitment to the welfare and interests of Nigerian workers.
The award was presented on Monday in Abuja as part of activities marking the union’s 114th anniversary. The President was represented at the ceremony by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who received the honour on his behalf.
The NCSU’s National President, Comrade Oluwole Sunday, described the Shield Award as the union’s highest honour, saying it was reserved for individuals considered to have demonstrated commitment to the advancement of Nigerian workers.
In presenting the award, Sunday described Tinubu as “a true shield of the Nigerian worker,” citing government interventions and policies which, according to him, had demonstrated concern for workers’ welfare and improved morale within the civil service.
The recognition, however, comes against the backdrop of continuing economic pressure on Nigerian workers, with rising transportation, food, fuel and other household costs putting pressure on the purchasing power of salaries.
Although Nigeria’s national minimum wage was raised from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 in 2024, while the statutory review period was reduced from five years to three years, but the Tinubu government’s neo-liberal policies, marked by complete removal of subsidy on petroleum subsidy, devaluation of the naira, amongst others, have orchestrated one of the worst economic hardships in Nigeria’s history.
Only last Friday, Keyamo himself acknowledged that the ₦70,000 minimum wage is no longer sufficient to withstand the economic pressures confronting Nigerian workers, noting that rising living costs had eroded workers’ purchasing power and called for an upward review of wages.
The broad renewed concern over workers’ purchasing power predated Keyamo’s call and comes after a week or two after another increase in fuel prices, rising from about ₦1,200 to above ₦1,400 per litre in major cities, including Lagos and Abuja, while reaching as high as ₦1,500 in parts of northern Nigeria.
This latest increase led to a spike in prices of goods and services due to corresponding hike in transportation.
While NCSU’s award represents the union’s perception of workers welfare measures taken by the Tinubu administration, there have been recent demands by Federal Workers Forum over a range of unpaid allowances coupled with the recent demand from organised labour for a new minimum wage of N500,000, highlighting obvious gap between nominal wage increases and the cost of living confronting many workers.
The administration’s 2024 minimum-wage intervention followed prolonged negotiations with organised labour. At the time, President Tinubu said the government recognised the economic difficulties facing workers and agreed to increase the proposed wage to ₦70,000, with a three-year review cycle.
The NCSU, described as Nigeria’s oldest trade union, founded in 1912, a history that extends beyond a century and predating the country’s independence, had historically been associated with organised labour’s struggle for workers’ rights during the colonial period.
Speaking after receiving the award, Keyamo expressed appreciation for the recognition and highlighted several measures he said demonstrated the administration’s attention to workers’ concerns.
He referred to the government’s intervention over outstanding severance benefits owed former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, as well as efforts to address salary disparities involving workers in the aviation sector.
The Federal Government recently approved ₦36 billion for the outstanding severance obligations of former Nigeria Airways workers. However, the payment has involved a prolonged process, reflecting the longstanding nature of the liability. Recent reports indicate that payments have begun, with the government stating that benefits amounting to ₦18 billion had been paid to 2,100 former workers in the latest tranche.
Keyamo has also previously highlighted efforts to address salary disparities affecting workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), following complaints over differences between their remuneration and that of workers in other aviation agencies. The Federal Ministry of Aviation has separately reported agreements with aviation unions covering salary relativity, minimum-wage implementation and allowances.
While the NCSU considers such interventions sufficient to warrant recognition, the wider labour environment remains challenging. Organised labour and other worker groups have continued to call for improved wages and measures to cushion the effects of rising living costs.
The contrast between the award and the continuing hardship facing workers therefore remains significant. While NCSU’s recognition reflects the union’s assessment of the administration’s interventions, the calls for higher wages and stronger economic relief underscore the unresolved pressures confronting the working class.
Keyamo, who was also recognised by the NCSU for his solidarity with Nigerian workers, said the struggle for improved workers’ welfare remained ongoing.
The minister subsequently displayed the Shield Award in his office alongside members of the union’s leadership, including its immediate past President, Comrade Lawrence Ameachi; Chairman of the Federal Council, Comrade Adoga Gupada; and Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Yildet Bigwan.
