The Federal Government don approve N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public servants for six months, starting from November 2026, to help reduce the effect of rising cost of living on workers.
The approval come after meeting between the Federal Government and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Both sides meet to discuss workers’ welfare, rising prices and agreements wey government never fulfil.
Government also approve payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears from May 1, 2026. Dem go pay the money in three equal monthly instalments, starting from November.
However, government and labour never agree on the date wey the new national minimum wage arrangement suppose begin to take effect. Both sides agree to set up Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee immediately to continue the discussion.
The agreements dey inside memorandum of understanding wey government and labour representatives sign after the meeting. The document cover transport allowance, outstanding payments, minimum wage negotiations, health workers’ allowances, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
Speaking after the meeting, NLC Assistant Secretary-General, Chris Onyeka, describe the discussion as productive, but say the outcome no reach wetin labour expect.
“E productive, but e no be wetin we expect,” na wetin e mean as e explain say negotiation sometimes require both sides to make compromises.
Onyeka confirm say the transport allowance go last for six months, starting from November. However, the agreement no state the exact dates wey government go pay the money or how dem go distribute am.
The meeting follow another discussion wey take place on October 22, 2026, after disagreements between government and organised labour over workers’ welfare.
The agreement come as Nigerians continue to face high transportation costs and rising prices of food and other important goods following the removal of petrol subsidy for May 2023.
The NLC don repeatedly call for better wages, lower petrol prices and the fulfilment of outstanding agreements to reduce the pressure on workers.
For the minimum wage matter, both sides agree to form a committee wey go include representatives of government, workers and employers. The committee go begin work immediately, but the date for implementing the wage agreement remain unresolved.
Nigeria’s national minimum wage increase from N30,000 to N70,000 monthly in 2024 after negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour. The new amount later become law.
For peculiar allowances, government approve payment of outstanding arrears from May 1, 2026. The money go come in three equal monthly instalments, starting from November. However, the agreement no state the total amount or how much each worker go receive.
For health workers, government agree to pay 19 months of outstanding allowance arrears within three months, starting from December 2026. The agreement no reveal the total amount or the exact payment dates.
