The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance, calling for an immediate salary increase and full implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
In a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, the congress described temporary wage awards as inadequate and unsustainable, citing the incomplete implementation of the 2023 wage award agreement between the government and organised labour.
TUC argued that the Federal Government could raise the salaries of its lowest-paid workers to N300,000, with corresponding adjustments for other salary levels, without waiting for fresh negotiations.
It maintained that the national minimum wage serves as a baseline rather than a salary ceiling, noting that some states had already increased their minimum wages above N100,000.
The congress said it conveyed its demands to the Federal Government in a letter dated October 8, 2026, following a meeting of its National Administrative Council in Abuja.
However, the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Gbenga Olowoyo, accepted the N70,000 wage award while reiterating labour’s demand for a N500,000 minimum wage.
Meanwhile, ActionAid Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have raised concerns over poor implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in some states.
