Abuja:The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on the government and employers to prioritize the welfare of workers. He emphasized this at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit in Abuja, organized by XEM Consultants Ltd.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Keyamo highlighted the critical role of the human factor in the effective functioning of organizations and the economy, stating that no technological advancement could replace the contributions of workers. He urged leaders across sectors to address issues affecting workers with urgency, as their contribution is essential to the nation.
During the summit, where he received an award for his commitment to workers’ issues, Keyamo advocated for better resource allocation towards workers’ welfare. He stressed that employers should ensure adequate resources are available to workers and unions for them to fulfill their responsibilities.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, also spoke at the event, calling for legislation that provides special welfare packages for senior citizens. Ajaero emphasized the need for support in transportation and healthcare for retirees and suggested that social protection should extend to informal workers and the self-employed. He noted that institutions like the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) could aid in this effort.
Olwaseun Falaye, the Director-General of NSITF, encouraged the development of systems to maintain healthcare access for retirees. He urged the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure healthcare services continue post-retirement.
Additionally, Omolola Oloworaran, Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), introduced the PenCare initiative, aimed at facilitating ongoing healthcare access for retirees. Represented by Awa Elendu, the Assistant Director, Legal, Head, Litigation and Dispute Resolution at PenCom, Oloworaran advised workers to actively monitor and track their pension contributions.
The summit, themed ‘Own Your Retirement: From Planning to Action,’ aims to equip workers and senior professionals with practical retirement knowledge.