The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers, demanding an immediate salary increase and the full implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers.

The labour centre said temporary financial relief would not adequately address the rising cost of living, insisting that Nigerian workers needed sustainable wage increases rather than allowances that could be inconsistently implemented.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, N.A. Toro, the TUC urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review workers’ salaries without waiting for negotiations on another national minimum wage.

The union’s position followed President Tinubu’s announcement of a six-month transport allowance for workers, scheduled to begin in November 2026, after a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The TUC said it had communicated its demands to the Federal Government in a letter dated October 8, following a meeting of its National Administrative Council in Abuja. It added that subsequent consultations with government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had not changed its opposition to the proposed allowance.

The congress argued that the government could increase salaries without waiting for a new minimum wage agreement, noting that there was no legal ceiling on the amount employers could pay their workers.

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It proposed raising the salary of the lowest-paid federal worker from the current ₦70,000 to ₦300,000, with corresponding adjustments for other salary grades.

The TUC said the proposed increase was necessary to help workers cope with rising food prices, transportation costs, healthcare expenses and other essential household needs.

It also pointed to some state governments that have introduced minimum wages above ₦100,000, arguing that the Federal Government should consider a more substantial and lasting adjustment to workers’ earnings.

The congress maintained that negotiations over a new national minimum wage should not be used as a reason to delay an immediate salary review.

Why TUC rejected the transport allowance

The labour organisation cited the incomplete implementation of the ₦40,000 wage award agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour in October 2023 as a major reason for rejecting another temporary payment arrangement.

According to the TUC, some workers were still owed one or two months of the previous award, while others allegedly received nothing. It also complained that payments to some beneficiaries were irregular, with intervals of one or two months.

The congress further claimed that more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector had not benefited from any form of wage award.

It questioned why workers should trust another temporary arrangement when, according to the union, previous commitments had not been fully honoured.

The TUC argued that a permanent salary increase would provide more predictable financial support and help workers plan their household expenses more effectively.

TUC demands implementation of JOHESU agreement

Beyond the salary dispute, the congress called on the Federal Government to implement its outstanding agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), particularly the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

The TUC said its president had led an organised labour delegation, including JOHESU representatives, in negotiations aimed at resolving the union’s prolonged industrial dispute.

The discussions culminated in a conciliation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, where both parties agreed on measures to address outstanding issues affecting health workers.

According to the TUC, JOHESU suspended its industrial action in good faith after the agreement was reached, but the government had yet to implement the agreed CONHESS adjustment seven months later.

The congress described the delay as a failure to honour a formal commitment and warned that it could undermine confidence in collective bargaining.

It called for the immediate implementation of the adjustment, publication of a clear timetable, adequate budgetary provisions and consultations with the affected unions to resolve outstanding matters.

The TUC said health workers should not be expected to continue providing essential services while agreed improvements to their conditions of service remained outstanding.

Union seeks broader measures to ease economic hardship

The congress also urged the Federal Government, state governments and local government authorities to introduce measurable interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.

It said economic hardship affected not only federal employees but also state and local government workers, pensioners, private-sector employees and people working in the informal economy.

The union called for timely payment of salaries and pensions, protection of existing jobs, action against exploitative labour practices and renewed investment in productive sectors capable of generating decent employment.

It stressed that government interventions should be inclusive, adequately funded and supported by clear implementation timelines.

The TUC said it was awaiting the outcome of its scheduled meeting with the Federal Government before deciding on its next course of action.

The dispute highlights continuing tensions between organised labour and the government over workers’ purchasing power, wage adjustments and the implementation of previously negotiated agreements.

The proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance is a temporary measure planned for six months, while the TUC’s demand for a ₦300,000 salary floor remains a proposal and has not been approved by the Federal Government.