The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance, demanding an immediate salary increase for workers amid rising economic hardship.
The labour union proposed that the Federal Government should increase the salary of the lowest-paid worker to N300,000 from the current N70,000, with corresponding adjustments for other salary grades.
The TUC argued that temporary wage awards were inadequate to address the rising cost of living, insisting that workers needed permanent salary increases to cope with soaring food prices, transportation costs, healthcare expenses and other essential needs.
The congress made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, N.A. Toro, following a National Administrative Council meeting held in Abuja on October 8, 2026.
The congress maintained that the government did not need to wait for negotiations on the national minimum wage before increasing workers’ salaries, noting that there was no legal ceiling on how much employers could pay their employees.
TUC Faults Previous Wage AwardThe congress also criticised the Federal Government over its failure to fully implement the 2023 wage award negotiated with organised labour, warning that the development had weakened workers’ confidence in temporary relief measures.
It said the previous wage award, agreed upon by the government and organised labour on October 2, 2023, was expected to remain in place until a new national minimum wage was negotiated in 2024.
According to the congress, some workers were still owed one or two months’ payments, while others had yet to receive any payment.It further alleged that workers who benefited from the allowance did not always receive it regularly, with some experiencing payment gaps of one or two months.
The TUC also claimed that more than 80 per cent of state governments and workers in the informal sector had not benefited from any form of wage award.It insisted that negotiations for a new national minimum wage should not be used as an excuse to delay urgent salary increases.
Congress Demands Lower Cost of LivingBeyond salary adjustments, the TUC called on federal, state and local governments to introduce practical measures to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
It urged the authorities to ensure the timely payment of salaries and pensions, protect existing jobs, tackle exploitative labour practices and strengthen the productive sector to generate decent employment opportunities.
TUC Accuses FG of Failing to Honour JOHESU AgreementThe labour congress also accused the Federal Government of failing to implement an agreement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
According to the TUC, its President, Osifo, led a delegation of organised labour, including JOHESU leaders and a representative of another labour congress, in negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute.
