The Federal Government has approved a ₦70,000 transport intervention for workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, as part of resolutions reached with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to address outstanding labour issues.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday, October 27, at a conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja to address demands presented by organised labour.
The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, had the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, leading the labour delegation.
According to a statement issued by the ministry after the meeting, the government also approved the payment of peculiar allowance arrears with effect from May 1, 2026. The arrears are to be paid in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
The government further agreed to clear 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, commencing in December 2026.
On hazard allowances for agricultural workers, the ministry disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated costs to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification.
The verification process is expected to be completed within two weeks, after which the commission will issue an implementation template.
The meeting also considered the proposed adjustment to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), with the NSIWC committing to complete the review of the cost implications within three weeks.
The outcome of the review will enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to make a decision on the proposed adjustment.
However, the government and organised labour failed to reach an agreement on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage.
Both parties nevertheless agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted immediately and commence meetings without delay.
On tax relief for workers, the ministry said the matter would be referred to the National Executive Council, noting that taxation is a statutory issue.
The October 27 meeting followed an earlier conciliation session held on October 22 and subsequent discussions on issues raised by the NLC’s Central Working Committee and National Executive Council.
To ensure compliance with the resolutions, the government and labour representatives agreed to reconvene in one month to review the level of implementation.
The meeting also urged state and local governments to participate in the intervention process, while calling on labour unions to engage the relevant authorities at their respective levels to facilitate implementation of the agreements.
