FG to Pay Workers ₦70,000 Transport Allowance for Six Months Starting November

Following a conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, the Federal Government agreed to pay workers a ₦70,000 transport intervention for six months starting in November 2026. A committee to review the National Minimum Wage was also established.

The agreement was reached at meetings on October 22 and 27 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to address workers’ concerns about rising living costs and other unresolved labour issues.

The NLC’s Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Council (NEC) issued a communique after their joint meeting. A Ministry press release dated Tuesday, October 27, 2026, and signed by Annah Daniel, Head of Press and Public Relations, stated that the transport intervention would cover workers at all levels for six months.

The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session on October 22 and discussions of concerns raised by the NLC’s Central Working Committee and National Executive Council. High living costs and soaring fuel prices had made basic commuting unaffordable for most public sector workers, prompting the NLC to issue a strict 14-day ultimatum demanding immediate financial relief and welfare measures from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Labour Union also made a demand for a review of the national minimum wage, a position which the federal government earlier opposed with the argument that the current wage was signed into law in July 2024, and a new review was not legally due until June 2027. However, the NLC fiercely rejected this delay, insisting that formal negotiations must begin immediately to cushion workers against inflation and hardships rather than waiting for the existing cycle to completely run out.

As a result, the federal government reached an agreement with the organised labour in a meeting held on Tuesday, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, with the NLC delegation led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

One of the key resolutions of the meeting was the allocation of ₦70,000 as an intervention from the government to improve workers’ welfare. Other resolutions include the commencement of payment of peculiar allowance arrears in November 2026 in three equal instalments, as well as the settlement of 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, beginning in December.

On the national minimum wage, both parties agreed to immediately constitute a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee. However, they remain divided over the effective date for implementation.

The meeting also addressed tax relief for workers, hazard allowances for agricultural workers and the proposed adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

The statement partly reads “National Minimum Wage: It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence a meeting immediately. However, there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.

2. Reduction in Petroleum Pump Price and Palliatives:
3. The Federal Government will pay a transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) across all levels for a period of six (6) months, commencing from November 2026.
4. The Federal Government has approved the peculiar allowance, effective 1 May 2026. Payment of arrears will begin.

The Federal Government and the NLC agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress on the implementation of the resolutions.

The transport intervention is expected to offer workers temporary financial relief amid ongoing economic pressures. However, the Ministry’s statement did not explain how payments would be made or specify which categories of workers would benefit.

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