Eniola Yekini
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers, insisting on an immediate salary increase to cushion the rising cost of living.
The labour body is demanding that the salary of the lowest-paid federal worker be raised from N70,000 to N300,000, with corresponding consequential adjustments for other cadres.
The position was contained in a statement signed by TUC President General, Comrade Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Comrade N. A. Toro, after a meeting of its National Administrative Council in Abuja and consultations with government officials.
According to the congress, it communicated its position to the Federal Government in a letter dated October 8, 2026, and maintained its stance during subsequent meetings with government representatives, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The TUC argued that a temporary allowance would not provide lasting relief amid rising prices of food, transportation, housing and other essential goods and services.
It said the government does not need to wait for negotiations on a new national minimum wage before increasing workers’ salaries, noting that no law sets a maximum wage.
“Salary increases and not temporary and haphazard measures. In the said letter, our position was very clear, Federal Government should review increase salaries of workers. This was hinged on the fact that government does not require minimum wage to be negotiated before increasing workers’ pay as there is no maximum wage law in the country,” the statement said.
“Some states today have raised their minimum wage above N100,000 such that federal government can raise the pay of the lowest worker to N300,000 for example from the current N70,000 and then apply the applicable consequential adjustment.”
The congress said it “vehemently rejected” the wage award proposal during consultations and warned that negotiations for a new national minimum wage should not delay urgent pay review.
Beyond salaries, the TUC called on governments at all levels to reduce the cost of essential goods and services, ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions, protect jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and revitalize productive sectors to create decent jobs.
It also raised concerns over the implementation of the N40,000 wage award agreed on October 2, 2023, alleging inconsistent implementation, delays of one to two months, and non-payment to some workers.
According to the TUC, more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector had not implemented any wage award.
“While the workers have kept their side of the bargain, the government hasn’t kept its side of the agreement. This continued failure to honour an explicit commitment violates the principle of good faith, undermines confidence in collective bargaining and is absolutely unacceptable,” it said.
The TUC also accused the government of failing to implement an agreement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, about seven months after the unions suspended their industrial action.
It said the agreement, signed at a conciliation meeting led by TUC President Festus Osifo and attended by Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Health Prof Ali Pate and then Minister of Finance Wale Edun, was to address adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS.
The congress demanded immediate implementation, a clear payment timetable, budgetary provision and further consultations, warning that health workers should not continue providing essential services while their welfare agreements remain unfulfilled.
It said it was awaiting a scheduled meeting with the Federal Government before deciding its next line of action.