The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers. The union wants an immediate salary increase and the full implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers.
TUC President-General Festus Osifo said permanent salary increases would provide more reliable relief than temporary allowances. He argued that the government could raise workers’ pay without waiting for negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
The union stated its position in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The statement followed consultations with government officials after the TUC’s National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja on October 8.
TUC Says Government Can Increase Salaries Immediately
The Federal Government announced the ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance after a conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on October 27.
The proposed support will run for six months, beginning in November 2026. However, the TUC said the measure would not offer lasting relief to workers struggling with rising living costs.
According to the congress, government does not need to conclude a fresh minimum wage negotiation before raising salaries. It said no law sets a maximum salary that prevents the government from paying workers more.
The union also proposed raising the salary of the lowest-paid federal worker from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000. It argued that the government could then apply appropriate consequential adjustments across other salary levels.
TUC cited some states that have introduced minimum wages above ₦100,000. It maintained that the Federal Government could take similar action to improve workers’ earnings.
The congress said negotiations over a new national minimum wage remain important. However, it warned that those negotiations should not delay urgent salary increases.
TUC Questions Implementation of Previous Wage Award
The labour union also raised concerns about the implementation of the ₦40,000 wage award agreed by the Federal Government and organised labour in October 2023.
The agreement aimed to provide temporary support until the parties reached a new minimum wage agreement in 2024. However, the TUC said the government did not implement the arrangement fully.
According to the congress, some workers still have outstanding payments for one or two months. Others, it alleged, never received the allowance.
The union also said some beneficiaries received payments irregularly. It claimed that workers sometimes waited one or two months between payments and had to make repeated demands.
The TUC further alleged that more than 80 per cent of states and the informal sector did not implement any form of the previous wage award.
That claim concerns the wage award, rather than direct compliance with the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage. Separately, The Guardian reported an assessment that put minimum wage compliance at 67 per cent among states and 48 per cent at local government level.
The congress questioned why workers should trust another temporary arrangement when, according to its account, earlier commitments remained outstanding.
It insisted that a regular salary increase would offer workers more dependable support than temporary payments.
Union Demands Implementation of JOHESU Agreement
Beyond salary increases, the TUC called on the Federal Government to implement its outstanding agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The dispute involves adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and other outstanding matters affecting health workers.
The congress said the parties had reached an agreement after several meetings. However, it alleged that the government had yet to implement the agreed adjustments seven months later.
TUC described the delay as a breach of good faith. It warned that failure to honour agreements could weaken confidence in collective bargaining.
The union wants the government to implement the CONHESS adjustment immediately. It also called for a clear timetable, adequate budgetary provisions and a resolution of all outstanding issues.
Osifo said the congress would continue to defend workers’ rights and pursue lawful measures to compel the government to honour its commitments.
TUC Calls for Wider Cost-of-Living Relief
The congress said the economic pressure extends beyond federal civil servants. State and local government employees, pensioners, private-sector workers and people in the informal economy also face rising living costs.
It urged governments at all levels to introduce practical measures that would reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
The union also called for timely payment of salaries and pensions, stronger social protection and efforts to revitalise the productive sector.
For the TUC, the central issue is whether government support reaches workers consistently and improves their purchasing power.
The proposed transport allowance is scheduled to begin in November. The TUC, however, maintains that a lasting salary increase and the implementation of existing agreements should take priority over temporary relief.
The union said it would await the outcome of further engagements with the government before deciding its next steps.
