Tinubu Receives NCSU Shield Award for Commitment to Workers’ Welfare

 

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo receives the NCSU Shield Award on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been honoured with the Shield Award of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) as part of activities marking the union’s 114th anniversary.

The award was presented on Monday at Merit House in Abuja in recognition of what the union described as Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The NCSU Shield Award is described by the union as its highest honour and is reserved for individuals it considers to have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to the advancement of Nigerian workers.

The award was received on behalf of the President by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who was also recognised by the union for his support for the Nigerian workforce.

The union’s National President, Comrade Oluwole Sunday, led the presentation alongside the immediate past President, Comrade Lawrence Ameachi, who served as Chairman of the Occasion; Comrade Adoga Gupada, Chairman of the Federal Council of the NCSU; and Comrade Yildet Bigwan, Assistant General Secretary.

In presenting the award, Sunday described President Tinubu as a “true shield of the Nigerian worker” and said the administration’s policies had prioritised the interests of the labour force.

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

Receiving the award on behalf of Tinubu, Keyamo expressed appreciation for the recognition from the NCSU, which he described as the oldest trade union in Nigeria.

Keyamo also highlighted what he described as the President’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The NCSU has 84 affiliates and traces its history back more than a century, predating Nigeria’s independence. The union has described itself as one of the organisations that confronted British colonial authorities over the interests of Nigerian workers.

Following the ceremony, the award was displayed by Keyamo in his office alongside leaders of the union.

The event formed part of activities marking the 114th anniversary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union.

FG Commissions 100 Electric Buses to Ease Transport Burden on Civil Servants

The Federal Government has commissioned electric buses under the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme as part of efforts to reduce transportation challenges facing federal civil servants and improve workers’ welfare.

The buses were unveiled on Wednesday at Eagle Square in Abuja, with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, describing the initiative as a major milestone in the government’s efforts to support civil servants.

The first phase of the programme involves the deployment of 37 buses out of the 100 electric buses approved under the initiative.

Walson-Jack described the launch as her “parting gift” to federal civil servants, coming less than 24 hours before the end of her tenure as Head of the Civil Service.

“What we have here is 37 buses, being the first instalment of the 100 Electric Buses,” she said.

She noted that transportation costs have a direct impact on workers’ finances, safety, punctuality and productivity, stressing that affordable and dependable transportation was important to the effective delivery of public services.

“For many Civil Servants, the daily commute shapes their finances, their safety, their punctuality, and ultimately their productivity,” she said.

According to her, the initiative is expected to help civil servants save money, reduce commuting risks and arrive at their workplaces with greater energy to perform their duties.

Walson-Jack disclosed that the buses would initially operate on selected routes under a pilot phase before being fully deployed. She added that the programme would eventually extend to Federal Secretariats across the states.

To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, she said a Special Purpose Vehicle had been established to oversee the management, maintenance and long-term operation of the buses.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, described the project as more than a transportation intervention, saying it combines workers’ welfare with productivity, industrialisation and technology.

Enoh said each of the 100 electric buses could accommodate up to 200 passengers and travel a minimum of 200 kilometres on a full charge.

The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Olu Osanipin, also confirmed that the deployment would be carried out in phases.

According to Osanipin, the first deployment represents the beginning of the phased rollout, with the full complement of 100 electric buses expected to be deployed by December 2026.

Enoh commended the NADDC and other stakeholders involved in the project, while urging local manufacturers to invest in production facilities, increase local content and develop products capable of competing in the global market.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring that its economic reforms translate into industrial growth, employment opportunities, infrastructure development and improved living standards for Nigerians.