The Federal Government has agreed to provide workers with a ₦70,000 transport intervention for six months from November 2026 as part of measures to address economic challenges affecting Nigerian workers.
The agreement was reached between the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at conciliation meetings held on October 22 and 27 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
According to a press release signed by Annah Daniel, Head of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, the meetings followed a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the NLC Central Working Committee and National Executive Council.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, while the NLC delegation was led by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero. Representatives of the Federal Government and other relevant officials also attended.
Under the resolutions reached, the government and organised labour agreed that a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin work immediately. However, the two parties have yet to agree on the effective date for implementing the minimum wage arrangement.
The meeting also approved the payment of peculiar allowances to eligible workers with effect from May 1, 2026. According to the statement, payment of the outstanding arrears will begin in November and be spread across three equal monthly instalments.
Health workers are also expected to benefit from the settlement, as the government agreed to clear 19 months of outstanding allowance arrears within three months, beginning in December 2026.
On tax relief for workers, the meeting resolved that the matter should be referred to the NLC National Executive Council because taxation is a statutory issue requiring further consideration.
The parties also discussed hazard allowances for agricultural workers. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and the estimated cost of implementation to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification.
The commission is expected to complete the verification within two weeks. After that, it will issue the template required to implement the allowance.
Another issue considered was the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). The NSIWC reportedly committed to completing the review of the associated cost implications within three weeks, paving the way for the Presidential Committee on Salaries to make a decision.
The Federal Government and the NLC also urged state and local governments to participate in the intervention process. Labour unions were encouraged to engage the authorities at their respective levels to facilitate implementation.
Both parties agreed to reconvene after one month to assess progress on the resolutions and determine the extent to which the agreed measures had been implemented.
Those listed as participants included the Director-General of Budget, Mr Tanimu Yakubu; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; Dingyadi; Ajaero; and the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga.
The resolutions cover several outstanding labour issues, including minimum wage negotiations, transport support, allowance arrears and salary adjustments. Their impact will depend on the implementation of the agreed timelines and the resolution of issues that remain unsettled.
