Keyamo urges priority for workers’ welfare

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has urged government and employers to prioritise workers’ welfare.

Keyamo made the call on Thursday at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit in Abuja, organised by XEM Consultants Ltd.

He said the human factor remained central to the effective functioning of every organisation and the economy at large.

According to him, no machine or technological advancement could replace workers’ role in driving economic activities.

“Issues affecting workers should be treated with urgency whenever they are brought to the attention of government or employers.

“Without these workers, we will not have a country. I urge leaders across sectors to always put workers first,” Keyamo said.

Keyamo, who received an award at the summit for his outstanding leadership and commitment to workers’ issues, also called for greater attention to welfare in resource allocation.

“Employers should ensure that adequate resources are made available to workers and unions to enable them perform legitimate responsibilities,” he said.

The minister commended the organisers for focusing attention on issues that could help workers prepare for life after active service.

He said he supported initiatives that promoted workers’ rights and improved their welfare.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero, called for legislation providing special welfare packages for senior citizens.

Ajaero said such legislation should provide retirees with support in areas including transportation and healthcare.

He said workers in the informal sector and self-employed persons should also be covered under social protection arrangements.

Ajaero said institutions such as the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) could play a role in providing such support.

Mr Olwaseun Falaye, the Director-General of the NSITF, said it would be laudable for retirees to continue having access to healthcare after leaving active service.

He urged the National Health Insurance Authority to develop modalities to ensure retirement did not terminate retirees’ access to healthcare services.

The Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, said the commission had introduced the PenCare initiative to facilitate continued healthcare access for retirees.

Oloworaran, who was represented by Mr Awa Elendu, Assistant Director, Legal, Head, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, PenCom, advised workers to monitor their pension contributions.

She also urged them to ensure they could track their pension savings.

It was reported that the National Pre-Retirement Summit 2026 is being held in Abuja to equip workers and senior professionals with practical knowledge for retirement.

The summit, organised by XEM Consultants Ltd., has the theme: “Own Your Retirement: From Planning to Action.”