Nigeria: Govt, NLC Agree on Transport Allowance, Health Workers' Arrears

What the report says

Nigeria’s federal government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have reached an agreement on several measures aimed at easing pressure on workers, according to reporting distributed by AllAfrica from Vanguard. The deal was reached at a conciliation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment after an earlier session on October 22, with the talks focused on cost of living concerns, minimum wage implementation, fuel prices, welfare issues and unpaid allowances.

Under the agreement, the government will introduce a ₦70,000 transport intervention for workers across all levels for six months starting in November 2026. It also approved a peculiar allowance effective from May 1, 2026, with arrears to be paid from November in three equal monthly instalments. In addition, 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers are to be cleared within three months beginning in December 2026.

The agreement was signed for the government by Labour Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Budget Director-General Timi Yakubu and Permanent Secretary Garba Abdul S. U., while NLC President Joe Ajaero and JNPSNC National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga represented labour. The sides also said a minimum wage negotiation committee would begin work immediately, though they remained split on when the new wage should take effect.

The meeting further sent the question of tax relief for workers to the National Executive Council and called on state and local governments to join the intervention process. The parties plan to meet again after one month to assess implementation.