‘Increase Salaries Immediately,’ TUC Rejects FG’s ₦70,000 Transport Allowance For Workers

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the ₦70,000 six-month transportation allowance approved for workers by President Bola Tinubu, urging him to increase salaries and implement the agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

President Tinubu announced the intervention for workers across all levels on Tuesday, with payments scheduled to begin in November 2026 and continue for six months. The announcement followed a conciliation meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

However, the TUC said that, following its National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja, it had sent a demand letter to the Federal Government through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, outlining the economic hardship facing workers and the wider population and proposing measures to address it.

The labour union said it preferred salary increases to temporary and inconsistent relief measures.

“In the said letter, our position was very clear: Federal Government should review increase salaries of workers. This was hinged on the fact that government does not require minimum wage to be negotiated before increasing workers’ pay as there is no maximum wage law in the country,” the TUC said.

The union argued that the government could increase the salaries of the lowest-paid workers to ₦300,000, citing instances of some state governments that have raised their minimum wages above ₦100,000.

“Some states today have raised their minimum wage above ₦100,000, such that Federal Government can raise the pay of the lowest worker to ₦300,000, for example, from the current ₦70,000, and then apply the applicable consequential adjustment.

“While it is good to negotiate minimum wage which will affect other cadre of workers, FGN must raise wage level immediately as there are no law or historical practices stopping it from doing so,” it said.

The TUC added that its leadership had held consultative meetings with Federal Government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to communicate its position.

Temporary Wage Awards Not Sustainable And Far-Reaching

The TUC argued that the wage award agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour in October 2023 was intended to remain in place until a new minimum wage was agreed upon in 2024. However, it said the award was never implemented comprehensively.

According to the union, some workers are still owed one or two months of payments, while others never received the award at all.

“How do we go back to the same wage award that never benefited all workers? How can workers be expected to trust fresh promises when previous obligations remain outstanding?” it asked.

The union also complained about irregular payments, noting that some workers who received up to four months of the ₦40,000 wage award did not receive the payments monthly but experienced intervals of one or two months and had to make repeated demands.

It added that more than 80 per cent of states and the informal sector had not implemented any form of wage award.

“From the foregoing, we further reiterate our demand for a pay raise for all government workers as salary is the only consistent and far-reaching pay that workers could rely upon,” it said.

The TUC maintained that the sacrifices made by Nigerian workers should not be undermined by what it described as an ill-conceived temporary measure.

It further argued that negotiations over a new national minimum wage should not be used as an excuse to postpone an urgent salary increase.

Protection Of Vulnerable Nigerians

The TUC noted that the economic crisis affects not only federal workers but also state and local government employees, pensioners, private-sector workers and those in the informal economy.

It said these groups were struggling with rising costs of food, transportation, healthcare and other essential goods and services.

The union therefore called on governments at all levels to introduce measurable interventions to reduce the cost of living, ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions, protect existing jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and revitalise the productive sector to create decent employment.

It stressed that such interventions must be inclusive, adequately funded and supported by clear implementation timelines.

The TUC also urged the government to move beyond policy announcements and demonstrate tangible improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.

The union disclosed that TUC President Festus Osifo led the organised labour team, which included JOHESU leadership and a representative of its sister congress, in efforts to resolve the industrial action that had lasted several months.

According to the TUC, several meetings were held at the office of the Minister of Health before a final conciliation meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Employment produced a communiqué agreed upon by both parties.

The Federal Government delegation was led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Dingyadi; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; and the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.

The TUC said the agreement led to JOHESU suspending its industrial action in good faith. However, it argued that while the workers had fulfilled their obligations, the government had yet to honour its commitments.

“Under the terms of settlement, it was agreed that all outstanding issues relating to CONHESS adjustment shall be conclusively addressed and disposed of without further delay; seven months later, the adjustment remains unimplemented.

“This continued failure to honour an explicit commitment violates the principle of good faith, undermines confidence in collective bargaining and is absolutely unacceptable to the TUC,” the union said.

The congress called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the agreed Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment, honour the JOHESU agreement, publish a clear implementation timetable, provide the necessary budgetary provisions and resolve all outstanding issues in consultation with the relevant unions.

“Health workers must not be expected to continue delivering essential services while commitments made to them remain unfulfilled.

“The TUC demands tangible action, not further assurances. It will stand firmly with the affected affiliates and health workers and pursue every lawful and legitimate measure necessary to secure compliance,” it added.

The union maintained that workers were not asking for favours but demanding social and economic justice to protect their dignity and livelihoods.

“The TUC will continue to defend workers’ rights without retreat, expose non-compliance and pursue every legitimate avenue to compel government to honour its obligations.

“Workers’ welfare is not a privilege. Agreements must be honoured. Workers’ rights must be respected. Government must comply,” it stated.

The TUC reiterated its rejection of what it considers inadequate temporary relief, demanding fair wages for all categories of workers, social protection for vulnerable Nigerians, a reduction in the cost of living and full compliance with existing agreements.

The union said it was awaiting the outcome of a scheduled meeting with the government before deciding on its next course of action.