TUC Reacts As FG’s Six-Month Transport Allowance For Workers Gulps N465bn

According to a report by The Punch on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s newly approved six-month transport allowance of N70,000 monthly for public servants, demanding an immediate general salary increase instead.

Announced following a conciliation meeting in Abuja, the intervention aims to cushion the heavy impact of soaring commuting and living costs, which are driven by high petrol prices.

According to an analysis based on Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System records, the total cost for approximately 1.1 million workers over six months is projected to hit N465.7 billion.

However, the TUC, led by President Festus Osifo, slammed the arrangement, pointing out that previous wage awards agreed upon in 2023 were never fully or consistently implemented.

The labour union argued that temporary allowances fail to reach workers uniformly and stressed that the government does not need to wait for lengthy minimum wage negotiations to increase workers’ pay.

They proposed bumping the lowest-paid worker’s salary to N300,000 alongside appropriate consequential adjustments.

Furthermore, the labour body criticized the government for neglecting outstanding agreements concerning health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions.

While economists like Dr. Muda Yusuf and Ayodeji Ebo acknowledged that the transport relief would bring temporary comfort to low-income earners, they called for sustainable, long-term interventions.

Experts in the labour industry urged the government to invest heavily in CNG-powered mass transit buses, promote remote work options to reduce commuting pressures, and ensure transparent funding to tackle the root causes of economic hardship.

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