The Federal Government has approved a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for public service workers across all levels for six months, starting in November 2026, as part of efforts to ease the burden of rising living costs.
The decision was reached during a conciliation meeting between the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, following renewed discussions on workers’ welfare, the rising cost of living and outstanding agreements.
According to a memorandum of understanding signed at the meeting, the transport intervention will run for six months, with payments commencing in November 2026.
The government also agreed to settle outstanding peculiar allowance arrears dating back to May 1, 2026. The arrears are to be paid in three equal monthly instalments, beginning in November.
However, both parties failed to reach a consensus on when the national minimum wage should take effect. Instead, they agreed to immediately establish the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and begin discussions on the matter.
The memorandum stated that the committee would be constituted and commence meetings without delay, while acknowledging that the government and labour representatives remained divided over the effective date for implementing the minimum wage.
The NLC also raised concerns about the government’s response to its demands, with the document noting that the union’s leadership had expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the outstanding issues.
In response, the Federal Government reaffirmed its respect for the NLC’s right to advocate for improved working conditions and said it was making efforts to address workers’ concerns through a structured intervention process.
The six-month transport allowance and the planned payment of outstanding arrears form part of the agreements reached at the meeting, while negotiations over the minimum wage implementation date remain unresolved.
