The Federal Government has agreed to provide workers with a ₦70,000 transport intervention for six months and clear 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers, following negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over workers’ welfare and the rising cost of living.
The agreement was reached at a conciliation meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after an earlier meeting on October 22.
The discussions focused on the economic pressures confronting Nigerian workers, the implementation of the national minimum wage, rising petrol prices, outstanding allowances and other welfare concerns raised by organised labour.
Under the agreement, the Federal Government will provide a transport intervention of ₦70,000 across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of prevailing economic difficulties on workers.
The government also approved the payment of the peculiar allowance, effective May 1, 2026. The outstanding payments are expected to commence in November and will be settled in three equal monthly instalments.
In a separate commitment, the government agreed to pay 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, beginning in December 2026.
However, despite the concessions, the parties have yet to resolve their differences over the effective date for implementing the new national minimum wage.
The meeting agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin work immediately to address the outstanding issues surrounding the implementation timeline.
On workers’ demands for tax relief, the meeting resolved to refer the matter to the National Executive Council for consideration, noting that taxation is governed by statutory provisions.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has also submitted the list of beneficiaries and the financial implications of the proposed hazard allowance for agricultural officers to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification.
The verification exercise is expected to be completed within two weeks, after which the commission will issue an implementation template.
Similarly, the NSIWC is expected to complete an updated assessment of the financial implications of the proposed adjustment to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) within three weeks.
The assessment will subsequently enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to determine the next course of action regarding the proposed adjustment.
The Federal Government and the NLC also urged state and local governments to participate in the intervention process and implement the agreed measures within their respective jurisdictions.
Both parties agreed to reconvene after one month to assess the level of implementation and address any outstanding issues arising from the resolutions.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; and the Permanent Secretary, Special Welfare Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S. U.
Representing organised labour were the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Olowoyo Gbenga.
