Tension As TUC Rejects FG’s N70,000 Transport Allowance, Demands N300,000 Minimum Pay For Workers

According to a report by The Vanguard on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 monthly transport allowance for federal workers, insisting that a substantial salary increase is needed to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers.

The position was contained in a statement jointly signed by TUC President-General Festus Osifo and Secretary-General Nuhu Toro, following an agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday.

According to the TUC, the government has the financial capacity to increase the salary of the lowest-paid worker from the current N70,000 minimum wage to N300,000 without waiting for another minimum wage review.

The union argued that temporary financial relief would not provide a lasting solution to rising living costs. It called for improved wages, stronger social protection and the implementation of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) agreement.

The TUC also questioned the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare, recalling that the wage award agreed upon in October 2023 was not fully implemented.

It said some workers were still owed one or two months’ payments, while others received nothing.

The union maintained that workers could not be expected to trust fresh promises while previous agreements remained unfulfilled. It added that it would decide its next course of action after the scheduled meeting with the government.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has criticised the exclusion of retirees from the six-month transport relief scheduled to begin in November 2026.

NUP President Godwin Abumisi described the decision as unjust, noting that pensioners also depend on public transport to access hospitals, buy food and meet other essential needs.

The pensioners further faulted the government for failing to fulfil its earlier promise of N25,000 monthly payments for three months to eligible households, including vulnerable retirees.

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