Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, received an award for his leadership and commitment to workers’ welfare at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit (NPS) in Abuja on Thursday, September 24, as discussions at the event focused on wages, retirement security and improved support for Nigerian workers.
The summit, organised by XEM Consultants Ltd., brought together government officials, labour leaders, pension administrators and professionals to examine how workers can achieve greater financial and social security before and after retirement. The 2026 edition was held under the theme, “Own Your Retirement: From Planning to Action.”
Keyamo, who previously served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment, used the platform to argue that workers should receive greater attention in government and organisational decision-making.
The minister said workers remain indispensable to the functioning of Nigeria’s economy, arguing that technological advances cannot replace the human contribution to productivity.
He urged government institutions and private employers to treat workers’ concerns with urgency and ensure that adequate resources are provided for employees and legitimate union activities.
Keyamo’s intervention came amid renewed concerns over the purchasing power of Nigerian workers. He has also said the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage is inadequate to absorb the economic pressures confronting employees.
The minister called for the Federal Government and organised labour to reach common ground on improved remuneration, while acknowledging that labour unions have pushed for a substantially higher wage.
NPS 2026 shifts attention to life after employment
The award came as the National Pre-Retirement Summit placed retirement preparation at the centre of discussions involving workers and senior professionals.
The organisers said the programme was designed to move beyond general retirement awareness by helping participants develop practical strategies for life after formal employment.
Key areas covered by the summit included:
- Financial planning and wealth management
- Pension and retirement preparation
- Health and wellness
- Entrepreneurship and investment
- Estate planning
- Agricultural enterprise
- Digital skills and post-retirement opportunities
The emphasis reflects growing attention to the financial challenges facing Nigerians as they transition from active employment into retirement.
The summit also featured calls for broader social protection for retirees and workers outside the formal economy.
Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero called for legislation establishing special welfare packages for senior citizens. He said such measures should cover areas including transportation and healthcare.
Ajaero also advocated stronger social protection for informal-sector workers and self-employed Nigerians, noting that retirement and social-security arrangements should not be limited to people in conventional salaried employment.
The discussions highlight a wider challenge: preparing Nigerians for retirement requires more than pension contributions alone. Healthcare costs, inflation, housing, transportation and opportunities to remain economically active can all affect the quality of life after employment.
The summit also drew attention to the need for workers to remain actively involved in managing their retirement savings.
The Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Omolola Oloworaran, represented at the event by Awa Elendu, advised workers to monitor their pension contributions and ensure they can track their accumulated retirement savings.
The commission has also introduced PenCare, an initiative aimed at facilitating continued healthcare access for retirees, according to remarks reported at the summit.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Olwaseun Falaye, called for arrangements that would allow retirees to maintain access to healthcare after leaving active employment.
Keyamo’s recognition at NPS 2026 came against the backdrop of his comments on workers’ purchasing power and the need to prioritise employee welfare.
His position is particularly notable because of his previous experience in the labour ministry and his current role as Aviation Minister. At the summit, he linked effective institutions and economic development to the welfare and productivity of the people who operate them.
The recognition should, however, be distinguished from the “Minister of the Decade” award Keyamo received from Daily Times during its centenary celebration in Abuja earlier in September. That separate award recognised his reported contributions to Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The National Pre-Retirement Summit placed workers’ welfare and retirement security within a broader conversation about Nigeria’s changing economic environment.
While Keyamo used the event to call for stronger attention to workers, labour leaders and pension-sector officials focused on practical measures covering wages, healthcare, pension monitoring and social protection.
For Nigerian workers approaching retirement, the central issue extends beyond the amount accumulated in a pension account. Sustainable retirement planning increasingly involves healthcare, investment, income diversification and preparation for continued economic activity after formal employment.
