The Federal Government has agreed to pay public service workers a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for six months, beginning in November 2026, to cushion the effects of economic challenges.The agreement also calls on state and local governments to participate in the intervention.
The agreement was reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday in Abuja, following demands by organised labour for improved workers’ welfare and economic relief.
According to the resolution signed by representatives of both parties, the transport intervention will cover workers across all levels for six months.
The resolution was signed by Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment; Timi Yakubu, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation; and Garba Abdul, Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Joe Ajaero, NLC president, and Olowoye Gbenga, national secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council, signed on behalf of organised labour.
The meeting also agreed that payment of arrears of peculiar allowances would begin in November, with outstanding amounts to be paid in three equal monthly installments.
The resolution stated that the Federal Government had approved the peculiar allowance with effect from May 1, 2026.
It also agreed that 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers would be paid within three months, beginning in December 2026.
On the national minimum wage, the parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin meetings immediately.
However, the resolution noted that both parties disagreed on the effective date for implementing the minimum wage.
The meeting also agreed that the issue of tax relief for workers would be referred to the NLC’s National Executive Council, noting that taxation was a statutory matter.
On agricultural workers’ hazard allowances, the resolution said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had submitted the list of beneficiaries and 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 will issue an implementation template.
For the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), the NSIWC is expected to complete an updated cost assessment within three weeks to enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to decide on the proposed adjustment.
The resolution urged state and local governments to participate in the intervention process and called on unions to pursue the implementation of the agreed measures.
Both parties are expected to reconvene after one month to assess progress in implementing the resolutions.
