FG Approves N70,000 Transport Support for Workers, Begins Minimum Wage Talks
The Federal Government has agreed to begin negotiations on a new minimum wage immediately and approved a N70,000 transport intervention for workers for six months, starting in November 2026.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday, October 27, following a conciliation meeting between government representatives and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.
The meeting, convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, followed an earlier engagement on October 22 to address concerns raised by organised labour over the rising cost of living and worsening economic conditions affecting Nigerian workers.
According to the resolutions, a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee will be constituted immediately and begin work without delay. However, the government and labour representatives have yet to reach an agreement on when a new minimum wage should take effect.
The six-month transport intervention is intended to ease the financial pressure on workers. However, further clarification is required on the payment arrangements and whether the N70,000 will be paid monthly to each eligible worker.
The meeting also agreed that outstanding arrears of peculiar allowances, approved by the Federal Government effective May 1, 2026, would begin to be paid in November through three equal monthly instalments.
Similarly, the government committed to settling 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, beginning in December 2026.
On the proposed adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which affects members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) pledged to complete an updated assessment of the financial implications within three weeks.
The assessment will enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to consider the proposed adjustment and make a decision.
Regarding hazard allowances for agricultural workers, the meeting was informed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated costs to the NSIWC for verification.
The commission is expected to conclude the verification within two weeks and subsequently provide a framework for implementation.
However, organised labour’s demand for tax relief remains unresolved, with the meeting agreeing to refer the matter to the National Economic Council (NEC), noting that taxation is a statutory issue.
During the meeting, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to addressing workers’ concerns through structured interventions and acknowledged the right of the NLC to advocate improved working conditions.
The parties also called on state and local governments to participate in implementing the agreed measures, while encouraging labour unions to sustain their efforts towards ensuring that the commitments are fulfilled.
They agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress on implementation.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; the Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
Representing organised labour were NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Comrade Olowoye Gbenga.
