The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have agreed on a six-month transport intervention of N70,000 monthly for workers, beginning in November 2026, as both parties move to address outstanding welfare demands and begin negotiations on the national minimum wage.
The agreement was reached at a conciliation meeting between government representatives and the NLC leadership at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Tuesday.
Under the resolutions, the government also approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowances in three equal monthly instalments, starting in November, while 19 months of unpaid allowances owed to health workers are to be settled within three months from December 2026.
The meeting further resolved that a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence work immediately. However, the government and organised labour have yet to reach an agreement on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage.
The resolutions were signed by the Director-General of Budget, Tanimu Yakubu; the Permanent Secretary, Special Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, on behalf of the Federal Government. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, signed for the Congress.
According to the agreement, the peculiar allowance was approved with effect from May 1, 2026, with the payment of outstanding arrears scheduled to begin in November and continue over three months.
The parties also addressed outstanding demands by agricultural officers for hazard allowances. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated cost implications to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification.
The commission is expected to complete the verification within two weeks and issue an implementation template thereafter.
On the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), the NSIWC undertook to complete an updated assessment of the financial implications within three weeks to enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to make a decision.
The demand for tax relief for workers was, however, referred to the National Economic Council (NEC), with the meeting noting that taxation falls within a statutory framework.
The resolutions followed concerns raised by the NLC over delays in addressing workers’ welfare demands amid rising living and transportation costs, as well as outstanding allowances and salary adjustments.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment had convened an initial conciliation meeting on October 22 after the Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of its demands. Tuesday’s meeting was held to advance discussions and secure commitments on the outstanding issues.
While the NLC raised concerns about the government’s response to workers’ demands, the Federal Government reaffirmed its respect for the Congress’s right to advocate improved working conditions, maintaining that the issues were being addressed through a structured intervention.
The agreement also called on state and local governments to participate in the intervention process and encouraged unions to pursue the implementation of the resolutions.
Both parties agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress on the commitments reached at the meeting.
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