FG Approves N70,000 Monthly Transport Support for Workers for Six Months
The Federal Government has approved a monthly transport support of N70,000 for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, to cushion the effects of rising living costs.
The approval was one of the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, following renewed pressure from organised labour over workers’ welfare, the rising cost of living and outstanding agreements.
The government also approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
However, the Federal Government and organised labour failed to agree on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, although both parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed at the end of the meeting by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The document, titled “Resolutions Reached at a Conciliation Meeting Held at Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Between the Federal Government and the Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, 27th October, 2026,” outlined agreements on minimum wage negotiations, transport support, outstanding allowances, health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session held on October 22, 2026, convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to address disagreements between the government and organised labour.
On the transport intervention, the memorandum stated, “That transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) commencing from November 2026 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months.”
The document, however, did not specify the payment date within each month or provide details of the administrative arrangements for disbursing the funds.
The agreement comes amid continuing concerns over transportation costs and the rising prices of essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, a development that contributed to increased living costs across the country.
Organised labour has repeatedly called for measures to ease the economic pressure on workers, including reductions in petrol prices, improved wages and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.
The memorandum also acknowledged the NLC leadership’s concerns about the government’s handling of its demands.
Addressing the disagreement, the document stated that the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues.”
It added that the Federal Government, in response, “stated that it fully respect the right of the Congress to advocate for improved working conditions for Nigerian workers, and is genuinely trying to address every aspect of it through a structured intervention.”
On the national minimum wage, both parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin meetings immediately.
However, the effective date for implementation remained unresolved.
The memorandum stated, “It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately. It should however be noted that there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.”
The disagreement leaves a major issue outstanding despite the commitment by both parties to begin negotiations without delay.
The national minimum wage became a major issue in 2024 when the Federal Government and organised labour negotiated an increase in the statutory minimum monthly wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The new rate was subsequently enacted into law through the National Minimum Wage Act.
The latest agreement refers to further discussions on the implementation date of the national minimum wage but does not specify the particular proposal under consideration or when the parties expect to conclude the negotiations.
The agreement indicates that while the government has approved some financial interventions, other demands by workers remain subject to further negotiations, administrative verification or decisions by relevant government bodies.
More details later.