Unions Reject N70,000 Transport Allowance in Nigeria

Three public service trade unions in Nigeria have expressed their support for the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in rejecting the federal government's N70,000 transport intervention. They argue that this allowance is insufficient given the rising cost of living and are demanding better salaries for workers.

The unions, which include the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), disowned a press release from the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) dated 30 October 2026. They accused the JNPSNC of excluding them from consultations and presenting an unauthorized position.

They highlighted that the Vice Chairman of the JNPSNC, representing the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), was also not consulted, raising concerns about the credibility of the consultation process. The unions emphasized that the N70,000 allowance does not adequately address the economic pressures faced by workers and called for improved remuneration.