Federal Government's N70,000 Transport Allowance Sparks State Demands

The federal government approved a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for its workers during a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leadership in Abuja on October 27, 2026. This decision has prompted state labor unions to seek similar support from their respective governments due to rising transport fares and living costs.

While some state chapters of the NLC are waiting for directives from their national headquarters, others are pushing for the allowance to be extended to state and local government workers. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the allowance, demanding an increase in the minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.

Payments for the transport allowance are set to begin in November, with arrears to be paid in three equal monthly installments. The NLC in Kaduna State, represented by chairman Ayuba Suleiman Magaji, confirmed plans to seek a similar allowance from the state government.

In Jigawa State, NLC chairman Sunusi Alhassa noted that the allowance is a step towards further negotiations on workers' remuneration. The NLC in Borno State, led by Yusuf Inuwa, plans to demand the allowance for state and local government workers once federal payments commence.