Nigerian Government To Pay ₦70,000 Monthly Transport Allowance To Workers for Six Months
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for public service workers for six months, beginning in November 2026, as part of efforts to ease the financial pressure caused by rising living costs.
The approval followed a conciliation meeting between government representatives and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
According to reports, the agreement was documented in a memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of both parties after discussions on workers’ welfare, the national minimum wage, outstanding allowances and other labour-related concerns.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, while the NLC delegation was led by its president, Joe Ajaero.
The transport intervention is expected to provide temporary financial relief to workers struggling with increasing transportation expenses and the broader cost of living.
However, the agreement did not specify the exact dates for monthly payments or the detailed arrangements for distributing the allowance.
The government and organised labour also called on state and local governments to adopt similar measures for workers under their respective jurisdictions.
Beyond the transport allowance, the meeting produced several other resolutions aimed at addressing outstanding welfare commitments.
The Federal Government approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026. The accumulated payments are scheduled to begin in November and will be disbursed in three equal monthly instalments.
The parties also agreed that 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers would be settled within three months, beginning in December 2026.
On the national minimum wage, however, the government and the NLC failed to reach an agreement on the effective date for implementation. Both parties agreed that a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin meetings immediately to address the outstanding disagreement.
Other issues discussed included tax relief for workers, hazard allowances for agricultural officers and adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The resolutions come amid continued pressure from organised labour for measures to improve workers’ purchasing power and address the impact of rising transportation costs, fuel prices and other essential expenses.
Although the six-month transport intervention represents a significant welfare commitment, questions remain about its implementation, including the payment schedule and the extent to which state and local governments will adopt the arrangement.
The government and labour representatives are expected to review progress on the agreed measures as discussions continue over outstanding workers’ demands and the implementation of the national minimum wage.