FG approves N70,000 transport allowance for workers

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Federal Government has approved an N70,000 transport allowance for workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November, as part of measures to cushion the effects of economic hardship on Nigerian workers.

The approval was part of the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.

The resolutions were signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul; and the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Gbenga Olowoyo.

The meeting also agreed that payment of peculiar allowance arrears, approved with effect from 1 May 2026, would begin in November and be made in three equal monthly instalments.

Similarly, the government agreed to settle 19 months’ arrears of allowances owed to health workers within three months, beginning from December 2026.

On the national minimum wage, the parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately. However, they disagreed on the effective date for implementation.

The meeting also considered the demand for tax relief for workers, resolving that the matter would be referred to the National Economic Council (NEC), as taxation is a statutory issue.

On hazard allowance for agricultural officers, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had submitted the list of beneficiaries and the cost implications to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification.

The verification is expected to be completed within two weeks, after which the commission would issue a template for implementation.

On the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), the NSIWC promised to complete an update of the cost implications within three weeks to enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to take a decision.

The Federal Government and the NLC urged state and local governments to key into the intervention process, while unions were encouraged to pursue its implementation.

Both parties are expected to reconvene in one month to review progress made in implementing the resolutions.