The Industry Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Executive’s N70,000 transportation allowance for staff for 6 months, challenging a direct wage build up and entire implementation of the settlement with the Joint Well being Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The union, on Wednesday, argued that everlasting wage will increase would offer extra dependable reduction to employees going through emerging residing prices than transient interventions, which it stated had failed to achieve all eligible employees up to now.
The FG had announced the six-month transportation allowance on Tuesday, with implementation scheduled to start in November 2026, following a conciliation assembly with the management of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
TUC proposes N300,000 wage for lowest-paid federal employees
The TUC stated its place adopted a requirement letter submitted to the Federal Executive on October 8, 2026, throughout the Place of business of the Secretary to the Executive of the Federation, calling for pressing measures to handle the commercial hardship going through employees and the broader inhabitants.
- “Within the stated letter, our place was once very transparent, Federal Executive will have to overview build up salaries of employees. This was once hinged on the truth that govt does no longer require minimal salary to be negotiated ahead of expanding employees’ pay as there is not any most salary legislation within the nation,” the Union stated.
The labour union argued that the Federal Executive may just elevate the wage of its lowest-paid employees from the present N70,000 minimal salary to N300,000, mentioning state governments that experience offered minimal wages above N100,000.
- “Some states nowadays have raised their minimal salary above N100,000 such that federal govt can elevate the pay of the bottom employee to N300,000 as an example from the present N70,000 after which observe the appropriate consequential adjustment,” the union stated.
- “Whilst it’s just right to barter minimal salary which can have an effect on different cadre of employees, FGN will have to elevate salary degree instantly as there aren’t any legislation or ancient practices preventing it from doing so,” it added.
It rejected the proposed transportation allowance, mentioning considerations over the implementation of a equivalent salary award agreed upon by means of the Federal Executive and organised labour in October 2023.
In step with the union, the former salary award was once supposed to stay in impact till a brand new minimal salary was once agreed in 2024, however its implementation was once inconsistent.
- The TUC stated some employees had been nonetheless owed one or two months of the allowance, whilst others by no means gained it.
- It added that some employees who gained as much as 4 months of the N40,000 salary award skilled abnormal bills, with one- or two-month periods and repeated follow-ups required.
The union additional claimed that greater than 80% of states and the casual sector didn’t enforce any type of salary award.
TUC requires measures to cut back value of residing
Past wage will increase, the TUC referred to as on governments in any respect ranges to introduce measures to cut back the price of crucial items and products and services and offer protection to employees and different susceptible Nigerians from emerging residing prices.
- The union stated the commercial hardship extends past federal govt staff to state and native govt employees, pensioners, private-sector staff and other folks operating within the casual economic system.
- It recognized emerging prices of meals, transportation, healthcare and different crucial products and services as pressures affecting families around the nation.
The TUC instructed governments to make sure the well timed cost of salaries and pensions, offer protection to present jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and revitalise the productive sector to create first rate employment.
Employees’ salary calls for
The TUC’s rejection comes amid endured drive from organised labour over employees’ buying energy, emerging residing prices and compliance with present salary agreements.
The calls for additionally incorporated implementation of exceptional agreements with public-sector and health-sector employees, together with the February 2026 agreement with JOHESU.