Nigeria's ₦70,000 transport allowance starts this month, but unions are split
Public servants get ₦420,000 over six months; the TUC has rejected the deal.
Abuja — Federal public servants in Nigeria are due to receive a transport allowance of ₦70,000 a month from November, after the government reached a deal with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on 27 October.
What the deal says
- Amount: ₦70,000 a month for six months, November 2026 to April 2027: ₦420,000 per eligible worker.
- Separate from wages: the allowance does not change the minimum wage.
- Other items: arrears of a "peculiar allowance" from May 2026 will be paid, and 19 months of allowances owed to health workers are to be cleared within three months from December.
The government has not yet said exactly which categories of workers qualify or how the money will be paid.
The dispute
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the agreement. The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) says the rejection will not stop it from being implemented, and has challenged the TUC to negotiate a bigger allowance if it thinks workers deserve more.
Sources: Nairametrics, BusinessDay, Vanguard, November 2026.
