TUC Rejects N70,000 Transport Allowance, Says Government Can Pay Lowest Worker N300,000

According to a report by Vanguard on Thursday, October 29, 2026, if you are a worker or a pensioner, this one affects your pocket. The Federal Government has proposed a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for federal workers. But the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected it, and pensioners say they have been left out.

The allowance was agreed after a meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday. It is a six-month relief for public servants, starting from November 2026.

The TUC called it inadequate temporary relief. It said the government can afford to raise the pay of the lowest-paid worker from the current N70,000 minimum wage to N300,000, without waiting for a minimum wage review. It wants a real salary increase and full implementation of the JOHESU agreement.

The union also said a similar wage award in October 2023 was never fully carried out. According to the TUC, some workers are still owed one or two months, and others never got it at all. It asked how workers can trust new promises when old ones are unpaid. The TUC is waiting for the result of its next meeting with the government before deciding what to do.

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), led by Godwin Abumisi, said leaving pensioners out is unjust. He said retirees also use public transport to reach hospitals, buy food and do other daily things, and many live on small pensions.

The NUP asked why the NLC did not push for the same relief for retired workers. It also said the N25,000 monthly palliative promised in 2023 was never paid.

The report does not include a reply from the government to the TUC or the pensioners.

What do you think? Is N70,000 for transport enough to help, or do workers need a bigger pay rise? Tell us how much you spend on transport every month.

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