The Federal Government has approved a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for public service workers for six months, with payments scheduled to begin in November 2026.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, following renewed demands for improved workers’ welfare amid rising transportation costs and the high cost of living.
According to reports by Punch Newspapers, Vanguard and Channels Television, the intervention is intended to ease the financial burden on workers struggling with increased commuting expenses.
When Will Workers Receive the ₦70,000?
Under the agreement, the transport intervention will commence in November 2026 and continue for six months.
If implemented for the full period, the allowance would amount to ₦420,000 per eligible worker over six months.
However, the agreement does not specify the exact payment dates or the administrative arrangements for disbursement.
FG Approves Payment of Outstanding Allowances
Beyond the transport intervention, the government also approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026.
The arrears are expected to be paid in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November 2026. The total amount involved and the individual payments due to eligible workers have not been disclosed.
Health Workers to Receive 19 Months of Allowance Arrears
The agreement also provides for the settlement of 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers.
The payments are expected to be completed within three months, beginning in December 2026.
Meanwhile, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission is expected to update the cost implications of a proposed adjustment to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to enable the relevant government committee to consider the matter.
What About a New Minimum Wage?
Despite the agreement on transport support and outstanding allowances, the Federal Government and organised labour have yet to agree on the effective date for implementing a new national minimum wage arrangement.
Both parties, however, agreed to constitute a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and commence meetings immediately.
Nigeria’s existing statutory national minimum wage remains ₦70,000 monthly. The newly approved transport intervention is a separate measure and should not be confused with a new minimum-wage increase.
Agricultural Officers and Tax Relief
The government also addressed hazard allowances for agricultural officers. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated costs to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for verification.
The commission is expected to complete the verification within two weeks and issue an implementation template.
On tax relief for workers, the meeting agreed that the matter would be referred to the National Economic Council for further consideration.
State and Local Government Workers: What You Should Know
The agreement calls on state and local governments to participate in the intervention process. Workers should therefore confirm the implementation arrangements applicable to their respective employers rather than assume that payment will automatically reach every employee.
The Federal Government and the NLC also agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress on implementing the resolutions.
Note: The ₦70,000 monthly transport intervention is a six-month support measure, not an increase in the statutory national minimum wage. Specific disbursement arrangements have not yet been detailed in the reports cited above.