The Federal Government has approved a ₦70,000 transport allowance for eligible public service workers. The payment will begin in November 2026 and last for six months.
The decision followed a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27. The agreement aims to ease the financial pressure on workers amid rising transportation costs.
However, both parties have yet to agree on the implementation date for the national minimum wage.
FG Approves Transport Allowance for Workers
The transport allowance formed part of the resolutions reached during a conciliation meeting. Government representatives and labour leaders attended the meeting to discuss workers’ welfare.
Under the agreement, eligible public service workers will receive ₦70,000 monthly. The payments will cover six months, from November 2026 to April 2027.
The government also agreed to pay outstanding peculiar allowance arrears. These payments will come in three equal monthly instalments, starting in November.
In addition, the agreement addresses 19 months of outstanding allowances for health workers. The government plans to settle these arrears within three months, beginning in December 2026.
The meeting also discussed hazard allowances for agricultural workers. Participants reviewed a proposed adjustment to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure.
Relevant government agencies must complete the necessary verification and cost assessments. These steps will guide further implementation.
Minimum Wage Disagreement Remains
Despite the agreement on transport support, the government and the NLC remain divided over the minimum wage implementation date.
Both parties agreed to establish a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee immediately. The committee will bring relevant stakeholders together to continue discussions.
The meeting also addressed tax relief for workers. The parties referred the matter to the NLC’s National Executive Council for consideration. Taxation involves statutory issues that require further attention.
Meanwhile, the government and labour representatives urged state and local governments to adopt similar support measures. They also encouraged unions to seek implementation within their respective jurisdictions.
Both parties agreed to meet again after one month. The next meeting will review progress on the outstanding commitments.
The transport allowance offers temporary financial support to eligible workers. However, questions about implementation and other welfare commitments remain. The outcome of the next meeting will show whether both parties have made progress towards resolving their differences.
For now, workers will be watching closely for the start of payments in November. They will also expect further updates on the minimum wage negotiations.
