The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has defended the Federal Government’s approval of a N70,000 transportation allowance for public servants, dismissing the Trade Union Congress’s (TUC) rejection of the association.
This was contained in a letter signed by JNPSNC National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga and issued on Sunday in Abuja to the council’s affiliated unions and state councils.
The council stated the allowance was a part of an settlement reached between the federal government and organised labour after negotiations on employees’ welfare and rising transportation prices.
The allowance is payable for six months, starting in November 2026.
The disagreement follows differing positions by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC on the allowance, with the NLC defending the settlement whereas the TUC has referred to as for increased everlasting salaries.
Why JNPSNC helps the allowance
Gbenga stated the allowance was supposed to cushion the influence of rising transportation prices on public servants and their dependants.
- “The payment of N70,000 transportation allowance to Nigerian workers is a welcome development, considering the unbearable transportation costs currently experienced by public servants across the country,” he stated.
He defined that the settlement adopted a gathering held on October 27, presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, with representatives of the NLC, JNPSNC and Joint Health Sector Unions in attendance.
According to Gbenga, the assembly lasted greater than six hours earlier than the federal government and labour representatives reached an settlement on a number of points affecting employees.
He clarified that the TUC was not a part of the negotiations that produced the settlement, though it was entitled to specific its views on labour-related issues.
The JNPSNC secretary added that any proposal by the TUC for the next transportation allowance can be welcome if it resulted in further advantages for public servants.
Other agreements reached with the federal government
The council stated the settlement additionally offered for the implementation of the 40% peculiar allowance, efficient November 2026, with arrears relationship again to May 1 to be paid in three instalments.
The authorities additionally agreed to ascertain a tripartite negotiation committee comprising representatives of the federal government, organised labour and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), following a requirement by the JNPSNC.
The council had launched into a three-day warning strike on October 2 to press for the institution of the committee and the decision of excellent employees’ welfare calls for.
- On well being employees’ calls for, the council stated the assembly permitted fee of 19 months’ arrears of allowances in three instalments, starting in December 2026.
- It added that changes to the Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure (CONHESS) would obtain additional consideration.
- The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission was given three weeks to conclude work on the CONHESS changes and ahead its suggestions to the related authorities for approval and implementation.
The JNPSNC urged federal, state and native governments to honour the settlement, saying efficient implementation would strengthen collective bargaining, restore confidence and enhance employees’ welfare nationwide.
TUC had earlier rejected FG’s N70,000 allowance
Nairametrics reported last month that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had rejected the Federal Government’s six-month N70,000 transportation allowance for workers, arguing that everlasting wage will increase would offer extra dependable reduction amid rising residing prices.
The union stated non permanent interventions had failed to achieve all eligible employees prior to now, citing inconsistencies within the implementation of the N40,000 wage award launched in 2023.
It referred to as on the Federal Government to right away elevate the salaries of its lowest-paid employees from the present N70,000 minimal wage to N300,000, alongside relevant consequential changes.
