The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s N70,000 transportation allowance for staff for six months, demanding an immediate salary increase and full implementation of the settlement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The union, on Wednesday, argued that everlasting salary will increase would offer extra dependable reduction to staff going through rising residing prices than non permanent interventions, which it stated had failed to succeed in all eligible staff previously.
The FG had announced the six-month transportation allowance on Tuesday, with implementation scheduled to start in November 2026, following a conciliation assembly with the management of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
TUC proposes N300,000 salary for lowest-paid federal staff
The TUC stated its place adopted a requirement letter submitted to the Federal Government on October 8, 2026, by way of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, calling for pressing measures to deal with the financial hardship going through staff and the broader inhabitants.
- “In the said letter, our position was very clear, Federal Government should review increase salaries of workers. This was hinged on the fact that government does not require minimum wage to be negotiated before increasing workers’ pay as there is no maximum wage law in the country,” the Union stated.
The labour union argued that the Federal Government might increase the salary of its lowest-paid staff from the present N70,000 minimal wage to N300,000, citing state governments which have launched minimal wages above N100,000.
- “Some states today have raised their minimum wage above N100,000 such that federal government can raise the pay of the lowest worker to N300,000 for example from the current N70,000 and then apply the applicable consequential adjustment,” the union stated.
- “While it is good to negotiate minimum wage which will affect other cadre of workers, FGN must raise wage level immediately as there are no law or historical practices stopping it from doing so,” it added.
It rejected the proposed transportation allowance, citing issues over the implementation of an identical wage award agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour in October 2023.
According to the union, the earlier wage award was supposed to stay in impact till a brand new minimal wage was agreed in 2024, however its implementation was inconsistent.
- The TUC stated some staff had been nonetheless owed one or two months of the allowance, whereas others by no means obtained it.
- It added that some staff who obtained as much as 4 months of the N40,000 wage award skilled irregular funds, with one- or two-month intervals and repeated follow-ups required.
The union additional claimed that greater than 80% of states and the casual sector didn’t implement any type of wage award.
TUC requires measures to cut back value of residing
Beyond salary will increase, the TUC known as on governments in any respect ranges to introduce measures to cut back the price of important items and companies and defend staff and different susceptible Nigerians from rising residing prices.
- The union stated the financial hardship extends past federal authorities workers to state and native authorities staff, pensioners, private-sector workers and folks working within the casual financial system.
- It recognized rising prices of meals, transportation, healthcare and different important companies as pressures affecting households throughout the nation.
The TUC urged governments to make sure the well timed fee of salaries and pensions, defend current jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and revitalise the productive sector to create respectable employment.
Workers’ wage demands
The TUC’s rejection comes amid continued strain from organised labour over staff’ buying energy, rising residing prices and compliance with current wage agreements.
The demands additionally included implementation of excellent agreements with public-sector and health-sector staff, together with the February 2026 settlement with JOHESU.
