Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised the Federal Government’s ₦70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers, arguing that the amount would be insufficient to cover commuting expenses for some government employees in Lagos.
Oseni said the proposed support would barely cover half the transportation costs of workers who live on the mainland and work on Lagos Island.
In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, the broadcaster disclosed that a member of his studio staff told him he spent approximately ₦7,000 daily on transportation.
According to Oseni, the worker’s monthly commuting expenses amounted to more than twice Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage, highlighting the financial pressure facing workers in major urban centres.
“I got talking to a member of staff at the studio yesterday, and he confirmed, he spends about 7k on transport every day,” Oseni wrote.
“In a month, he spends twice the minimum wage on transport.
“Even the government transport subsidy of 70k will be ineffective for a government worker in Lagos that lives on the mainland and works on the island.
“It would just pay half of the cost of commuting.”
The broadcaster’s comments followed the Federal Government’s announcement on Tuesday that it had approved a ₦70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026.
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The approval was one of the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.
The agreement also included the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
However, the parties did not 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.
Oseni’s criticism highlights concerns over whether the proposed transport support will adequately address commuting costs for workers, particularly those travelling long distances in cities where transportation expenses have risen sharply.