TUC Rejects Proposed N70,000 Wage Award, Demands N300,000 Salary for Lowest-Paid Federal Workers
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public workers, insisting that a permanent salary increase would provide more reliable relief amid the rising cost of living.
The labour union is instead demanding an immediate increase in workers’ salaries, arguing that temporary financial support is insufficient to address the economic challenges confronting Nigerian workers.
In a statement signed by its President-General, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, the TUC said the Federal Government should consider raising the salary of its lowest-paid worker from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000, alongside appropriate adjustments for other salary grades.
The Federal Government’s proposed transport allowance followed a conciliation meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.
Under the arrangement announced on October 27, 2026, the allowance is intended to run for six months, beginning in November.
However, the TUC said it was concerned that another temporary wage award might fail to reach workers consistently, pointing to what it described as incomplete implementation of an earlier wage award introduced in 2023.
According to the congress, some workers were still owed one or two months of the previous award, while others allegedly received nothing. It also complained that payments to some beneficiaries were irregular.
The union questioned why the government was proposing another temporary arrangement before fully resolving outstanding obligations under the previous one.
The TUC argued that the Federal Government does not need to wait for negotiations on a new national minimum wage before increasing workers’ salaries.
It maintained that the government could raise the salary of its lowest-paid worker to ₦300,000 and apply consequential adjustments to other salary levels.
The proposal is the union’s demand and has not been announced as an approved government salary structure.
The congress also said that salary increases would offer more dependable support because workers could rely on receiving their pay regularly, unlike temporary allowances that might be delayed or inconsistently implemented.
The TUC said the economic hardship affecting Nigerians extends beyond federal civil servants to state and local government employees, pensioners, private-sector workers and people in the informal economy.
It called on governments at all levels to take practical steps to reduce the cost of essential goods and services, including food, transportation and healthcare.
The union also urged authorities to ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions, protect existing jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and support the productive sector to create decent employment.
Beyond the wage award dispute, the congress called for the Federal Government to implement outstanding commitments made to the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The TUC said an agreement covering unresolved issues related to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment remained unimplemented seven months after the settlement.
It called for the immediate implementation of the agreement, a clear timetable and the necessary budgetary provisions.
The congress warned that continued delays could undermine confidence in collective bargaining and insisted that health workers should not be left waiting indefinitely for commitments made during negotiations.
The TUC said it would continue to pursue workers’ demands through lawful means and was awaiting the outcome of its scheduled engagement with the Federal Government before deciding on its next steps.
The union has not announced an immediate nationwide strike in the statement reported by the media.
The disagreement leaves the government facing competing expectations over how best to provide relief: a six-month transport allowance or a more permanent salary adjustment. The outcome of further discussions will determine whether the parties can reach an arrangement acceptable to organised labour.
