TUC REJECTS TINUBU’S ₦70,000 TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE, DEMANDS IMMEDIATE SALARY INCREASE

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public service workers, insisting that Nigerian workers need permanent salary improvements rather than temporary financial interventions. The disagreement follows the Federal Government’s announcement of a six-month transport allowance for workers beginning in November 2026, the intervention was reached during a conciliation meeting between government representatives and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on October 27. Under the agreement, the government approved a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for six months. The intervention is intended to cushion the impact of rising transportation costs and the broader economic difficulties confronting Nigerian workers. However, the Trade Union Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed intervention. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, TUC President Festus Osifo and Secretary-General Nuhu Toro argued that the government should prioritise an immediate salary increase. The congress also called for the implementation of outstanding agreements affecting workers, including the agreement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions, the TUC maintained that temporary allowances would not adequately address the financial difficulties facing workers. The agreement between the Federal Government and the NLC also covered other outstanding welfare issues. These include the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears dating back to May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November. The government also agreed to redeem 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, beginning in December 2026. Both parties further agreed to establish a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to begin discussions immediately. However, they did not reach an agreement on the effective date for implementing a new national minimum wage. The disagreement between the two labour organisations raises broader questions about the most effective way to improve workers’ welfare, while the six-month transport intervention could provide temporary relief, it does not necessarily resolve the wider challenges associated with inflation, food prices, transportation costs and inadequate purchasing power. For workers whose salaries are already stretched by rising living expenses, the difference between temporary assistance and a sustainable improvement in income remains significant. The government is expected to commence the transport intervention in November 2026. Meanwhile, the disagreement highlights the need for continued engagement between government and organised labour to find lasting solutions to the economic difficulties facing Nigerian workers.