TUC Rejects FG’s N70,000 Transport Allowance, Demands Salary Increase

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have rejected the federal government's proposed N70,000 transport allowance for civil servants, stating that such temporary wage awards are not a viable solution. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the allowance as a desperate attempt to quell public discontent, stating that it only serves to mask the government's shortcomings.

The N70,000 monthly transport allowance was approved by the federal government for six months, starting in November 2026, in an effort to alleviate the impact of inflation on public service workers. The approval was reached after a conciliation meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders in Abuja. However, TUC has demanded an immediate salary increase for workers and the implementation of an agreement reached with Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

TUC President Festus Osifo emphasized that the union would consider the federal government's response to their demands when they meet. TUC also cited the failure of previous wage awards to benefit all workers, irregularity in payment of the 2023 wage award, and the possibility of raising the pay of low-wage workers to N300,000. The union called for an urgent review of workers' salaries and stressed that negotiations over a new national minimum wage should not be used as a pretext to delay essential pay increments.