We Don’t Want Your N70k Transport Allowance, Nigerian Workers Tell Tinubu

They are demanding instead, an immediate salary increase and the implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions.

Speaking through the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria they stated that temporary wage awards were inadequate to address the needs of the generality of Nigerian workers..

Rather than introduce relief measures that might not be implemented consistently, the federal government should increase salaries to enable Nigerian workers, contain the worsening economic hardship confronting them.

“The Federal Government should review increasing workers’ salaries.

“This was hinged on the fact that the government does not require the minimum wage to be negotiated before increasing workers’ pay, as there is no maximum wage law in the country”, the TUC stated in a statement issued today by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, N.A. Toro.

The issuance of the statement followed followed a National Administrative Council meeting held in Abuja on October 8, 2026.

It referred to an earlier communication to the Federal Government through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding an immediate salary review in response to rising living costs.

In that letter, the congress argued that the Federal Government could cut off unnecessary delay by raisng the salary of the lowest-paid worker to N300,000 from the current N70,000.

“The wage award agreed between FGN and organised labour on the 2nd of October 2023 was to be implemented until a minimum wage was agreed in 2024 but was never implemented holistically,” the statement said.

Stating that more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector had not benefited from any form of wage award, the congress queried:

“How do we go back to the same wage award that never benefited all workers? How can workers be expected to trust fresh promises when previous obligations remain outstanding?”

“Negotiations of a new national minimum wage must not become an excuse for postponing urgent pay increment.

“While the workers have kept their side of the bargain, the government hasn’t kept its side of the agreement.

“Workers’ welfare is not a privilege. Agreements must be honoured. Workers’ rights must be respected. Government must comply”, the TUC argued amongst others.

Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer He has worked with the Daily Times, Daily Independent, Financial Standard and Business Television to mention some. His ongoing Corporate Communications Master Class training series equips learners with credible hands-on skills for effective Media Relations, Public Communications & Corporate Affairs amongst others. He can be contacted via 09165809519 or 08180335778.

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