FG Approves N70,000 Monthly Transport Allowance for Workers for Six Months

The Federal Government has agreed to pay Nigerian workers a monthly transport allowance of N70,000 for six months, beginning in November 2026, following negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a conciliation meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The parties also agreed to settle outstanding peculiar allowances in three equal monthly instalments, with payments scheduled to begin in November.

According to the resolutions signed by government representatives and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the peculiar allowance was approved with effect from May 1, 2026.

The agreement further provides for the settlement of 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, beginning in December 2026.

The meeting also resolved to immediately constitute the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and commence discussions, although the government and labour union remained divided over the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage.

The negotiations followed concerns raised by the NLC over delays in addressing workers’ welfare demands amid rising living and transportation costs.

Government representatives at the meeting included the Director-General of Budget, Tanimu Yakubu; the Permanent Secretary of the Special Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi.

The parties also considered the payment of hazard allowances to agricultural officers.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated cost implications to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for verification.

The verification process is expected to be completed within two weeks, after which the commission will issue an implementation template.

On adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), the commission committed to completing an update of the cost implications within three weeks to enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to make a decision.

Meanwhile, the NLC’s demand for tax relief for workers was referred to the National Economic Council, with the meeting noting that taxation was a statutory matter.

The conciliation process followed the labour union’s dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of its demands. The Ministry of Labour and Employment had held an initial meeting with the union on October 22 before Tuesday’s negotiations.

Despite disagreements over some outstanding issues, the government reaffirmed its respect for the NLC’s right to advocate improved working conditions.

The resolutions also called on state and local governments to participate in the intervention process and encouraged labour unions to press for the implementation of agreed measures.

Both parties agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress on the resolutions.