President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorised a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public-sector employees at every tier of government, following talks held as a Nigeria Labour Congress deadline for a potential nationwide shutdown expired on Tuesday, October 27.
Transport relief and wage talks
- The agreement emerged from a Tuesday meeting involving Labour and Employment Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and Nigeria Labour Congress leaders headed by Joe Ajaero.
- The Federal Government said the ₦70,000 transport payment will begin on November 5, 2026, and continue for six months, aiming to reduce the pressure of higher household living expenses.
- It said the intervention would be paid to workers across all government levels from November 2026 for the six-month period.
- The administration also approved settlement of unpaid peculiar allowance arrears dating from May 1, 2026. Those arrears are to be paid in three equal monthly tranches starting in November 2026.
- Government representatives and the NLC further agreed to set up a negotiating panel that will begin work immediately on fixing the commencement date for a revised national minimum wage.
The NLC had given the Federal Government four days to lower petrol prices and reconsider the ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage, warning that it could shut down economic activity if its demands were not addressed.
