NEWS
FG Approves ₦70,000 Monthly Transport Allowance for Workers for Six Months, Begins November
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, in a fresh move to ease the financial burden on workers amid rising living costs.
The approval was one of the major resolutions reached during a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The meeting followed renewed pressure from organised labour over the escalating cost of living, workers’ welfare and the need for the government to fulfil outstanding agreements with labour unions.
Under the arrangement, eligible public service workers will receive ₦70,000 monthly as transport support throughout the six-month intervention period, providing temporary relief from the increasing cost of commuting and other work-related expenses.
The intervention comes amid persistent economic challenges confronting Nigerian workers, particularly the rising costs of transportation, food and other essential commodities, which have continued to put pressure on household incomes.
In another significant development, the Federal Government also approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears to eligible workers, effective from May 1, 2026.
The arrears will be paid in three equal monthly instalments, with disbursement scheduled to commence in November 2026.
The decision represents another outcome of the engagement between the government and organised labour aimed at addressing outstanding welfare issues and easing tensions over workers’ entitlements.
However, despite the progress recorded on the transport intervention and allowance arrears, the meeting ended without a consensus on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage.
The unresolved issue remains a key concern for organised labour, which has continued to push for the implementation of agreed wage-related measures to improve workers’ purchasing power and protect their standard of living.
To address the impasse, both parties agreed that a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin meetings immediately to deliberate on the outstanding matter.
The committee is expected to provide a platform for further negotiations between the government and labour representatives in a bid to reach a mutually acceptable position on the implementation timeline.
While the approved transport intervention and the scheduled payment of peculiar allowance arrears mark progress in the ongoing discussions, the minimum wage implementation date remains unresolved.
The coming weeks are therefore expected to be crucial as both parties resume negotiations, with public service workers awaiting the implementation of the agreed welfare measures and a definitive resolution of the outstanding minimum wage issue.