FG Approves Six-Month N70,000 Transport Support for Workers
The Federal Government has approved a N70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning November 2026, to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
The approval was part of resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held in Abuja on Tuesday, following renewed pressure from organised labour over workers’ welfare and outstanding agreements.
The meeting was convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as a follow-up to an earlier session held on October 22, 2026.
According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the end of the meeting, the government also approved the payment of peculiar allowance arrears effective May 1, 2026, to be paid in three equal monthly instalments starting November.
The MoU was signed by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; 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.
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’, the document also covered health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
On transport support, the MoU 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.”
It did not specify the exact payment date or disbursement modalities.
The intervention comes amid sustained concerns over high transportation and living costs following the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023.
On minimum wage, the parties agreed to immediately constitute the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, but failed to agree on the effective date of implementation.
“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 MoU stated.
The MoU noted that the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues,” while the Federal Government said 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.”
The national minimum wage was last reviewed in 2024 when it was increased from N30,000 to N70,000 and enacted into law.
