FG approves N70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers

The federal government has approved a monthly transport allowance of N70,000 for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, as part of measures to ease the burden of rising living costs.

The approval was reached during a conciliation meeting between the government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, amid renewed pressure from organised labour over workers’ welfare and outstanding agreements.

The intervention, which will run for six months, is one of several resolutions contained in a memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of both parties at the end of the meeting.

The government also approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.

However, both parties failed to reach an agreement on when the national minimum wage should take effect, although they agreed to constitute a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and begin meetings immediately.

The memorandum was signed by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; 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.

On the transport allowance, the document stated that the intervention of N70,000 would commence in November and continue for six months across all levels of the public service.

The agreement did not specify the exact dates for monthly payments or the administrative arrangements for disbursing the funds.