ABUJA — The Federal Government has approved a temporary ₦70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all cadres for six months, effective November 2026, to cushion the impact of rising living and commuting costs.
The agreement was formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the conclusion of a high-level conciliation meeting between federal representatives and leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja late Tuesday evening, October 27, 2026.
The signatory delegates included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi; Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office, Garba Abdul; NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; and National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC), Olowoyo Gbenga.
Beyond the direct transport support, the MoU details additional financial relief measures, including the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears—dating back to May 1, 2026—to be disbursed in three equal monthly installments starting in November 2026.
The framework also addresses long-standing disputes regarding health sector remuneration, outlining a three-week window for the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to complete cost evaluations for the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment. Further agreements on statutory tax relief for workers are slated for presentation before the National Economic Council (NEC).
While the conciliation session successfully defused immediate threats of nationwide industrial action, representatives agreed to constitute a joint committee to conclude negotiations regarding the effective baseline date for the national minimum wage. Both parties are scheduled to reconvene in one month to assess implementation compliance across federal organs while encouraging state and local governments to adopt matching relief measures.
