The Federal Government has approved a ₦70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, to ease the impact of rising living costs.
The approval was one of the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, following renewed pressure from organised labour over workers’ welfare, the 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, both parties failed to reach an agreement on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, although they agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin meetings immediately.
The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office in the 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 transport support, allowance arrears, minimum wage negotiations, health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
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On the transport intervention, the memorandum stated that the ₦70,000 monthly payment would commence in November and continue for six months across all levels.
However, the document did not specify the payment date within each month or explain the administrative arrangements for disbursement.
The agreement comes amid persistent concerns over transportation costs and the prices of essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, which contributed to increased living expenses nationwide.
Organised labour has repeatedly called for measures to reduce the economic pressure on workers, including improved wages, lower petrol prices and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.
The memorandum also acknowledged the NLC leadership’s concerns about the government’s handling of its demands.
According to the document, the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues.”
The Federal Government, in response, stated that it respected the Congress’s right to advocate for improved working conditions and was working to address the demands through structured interventions.
On the national minimum wage, both parties agreed to constitute the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and begin meetings immediately. However, the effective date for implementation remained unresolved.
The memorandum stated that the committee would commence work without delay but noted that the parties disagreed on when implementation should take effect.
The disagreement leaves a key issue outstanding despite the commitment to begin negotiations promptly.
The national minimum wage became a major point of contention in 2024, when the Federal Government and organised labour negotiated an increase in the statutory monthly minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. The new rate was subsequently enacted into law.
The latest memorandum does not specify the precise proposal now under consideration or indicate when the parties expect to conclude further discussions on the implementation date.
While the agreement provides for transport support and the settlement of allowance arrears, other workers’ demands remain subject to further negotiations, administrative verification or decisions by the relevant government authorities.