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Federal Government approves ₦70,000 transport intervention for workers across all levels for six months, beginning November 2026.
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Peculiar allowance approved with effect from May 1, 2026, with payment of arrears in three equal monthly instalments from November.
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Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to be constituted immediately, although FG and NLC disagree on the effective date of implementation.
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Nineteen months of health workers’ allowance arrears to be redeemed within three months from December, while agricultural workers’ hazard allowance awaits verification.
October 27, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have reached an agreement on key workers’ welfare issues, with the government approving a ₦70,000 transport intervention for workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026.
The agreement was reached at conciliation meetings convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on October 22 and 27, following renewed engagements between the government and organised labour over workers’ welfare, the rising cost of living and outstanding agreements.
The meetings were chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, while the NLC delegation was led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
A statement signed on Tuesday by Annah Daniel, Head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the resolutions followed extensive deliberations on issues raised by both parties, including the national minimum wage, transport intervention, outstanding allowances, tax relief and salary adjustments.
FG Approves Six-Month Transport Intervention, Peculiar Allowance Arrears To Be Paid In Three Instalments
Under the agreement, the Federal Government will pay ₦70,000 as transport intervention across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026.
The intervention was listed among the resolutions reached under measures to address the concerns raised by organised labour.
The meeting also urged state and local governments to key into the intervention, while unions were encouraged to push for its implementation at their respective levels.
The Federal Government also approved a special allowance with effect from May 1, 2026, with payment of the outstanding arrears scheduled to commence in November.
According to the ministry, the arrears will be paid in three equal monthly instalments.
The meeting further resolved that 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers would be redeemed within three months, beginning in December 2026.
Minimum Wage Talks To Begin Immediately
On the national minimum wage, the government and the NLC agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
However, the two parties disagreed on the effective date of implementation, leaving the issue unresolved despite their agreement to begin the committee’s work.
The conciliation meetings followed a communiqué issued at the end of a joint meeting of the NLC’s Central Working Committee and National Executive Council.
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Agricultural Workers’ Hazard Allowance Awaits Verification
On hazard allowance for agricultural workers, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated cost implications 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 the implementation template.
CONHESS Adjustment, Tax Relief Also Discussed
The meeting also considered the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The NSIWC is expected to complete an update of the cost implications within three weeks, enabling the Presidential Committee on Salaries to take a decision on the proposed adjustment.
On tax relief for workers, the meeting resolved that the issue would be referred to the NLC’s National Executive Council, noting that taxation is a statutory matter.
FG, Labour To Review Implementation In One Month
The Federal Government and the NLC agreed to reconvene after one month to assess the level of implementation of the resolutions reached at the conciliation meetings.
Officials who attended the meeting included the Director-General of Budget, Mr Tanimu Yakubu; the Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; and National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga.
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