FG Approves ₦70,000 Monthly Transport Allowance for Workers Amid Rising Fuel Prices

Payment to Run for Six Months From November 2026 as Labour Negotiations Produce Fresh Relief Measures

The Federal Government has approved a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for Nigerian workers for six months, beginning in November 2026, as part of measures to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on workers.

The decision was among the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The intervention is expected to provide temporary financial relief to workers grappling with increased transportation costs and the wider cost-of-living pressures associated with higher petroleum pump prices.

Under the resolutions, the government is also expected to constitute the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and commence meetings immediately.

The agreement further provides for the payment of outstanding peculiar allowances in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November 2026.

In addition, the government agreed to redeem 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers within three months, commencing in December 2026.

On tax relief, the meeting resolved that the matter would be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) for consideration.

Although the approved transport allowance offers a temporary intervention, questions remain about its implementation, the categories of workers eligible to benefit, the payment mechanism and whether the government can sustain the arrangement throughout the six-month period.

The measure also comes amid broader concerns about the pressure of transport fares, food prices and other household expenses on workers’ purchasing power.

The commencement of minimum wage negotiations is expected to provide another opportunity for the government and organised labour to address workers’ earnings and the rising cost of living.

Further details on the implementation timetable and the operational guidelines for the transport allowance are expected to clarify how the intervention will reach eligible workers.