The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has defended the N70,000 monthly transportation allowance agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour, insisting that the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) cannot stop its implementation by rejecting the deal.
The council said the agreement, reached on October 27, 2026, also covers the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, payment of 19 months’ arrears of health workers’ allowances and proposed salary adjustments in the health sector.
The details were contained in a circular signed by the JNPSNC National Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, and addressed to national presidents and general secretaries of affiliated unions, as well as state chairmen and secretaries of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils across the country.
According to the circular, the agreement followed more than six hours of negotiations involving the Federal Government, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), JNPSNC and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
Under the arrangement, public servants will receive N70,000 monthly as transportation support for six months, starting from November 2026, to ease the burden of increasing transport fares on workers and their families.
The JNPSNC called on state and local governments to implement similar measures to support their workers, particularly given the revenue available to sub-national governments.
The circular stated: “On the issue of payment of (N70,000) seventy thousand naira transportation allowance, which will be paid for the next six months to Public Servants starting from the month of November 2026, it was meant to subsidize the unbearable transportation cost being experienced by Nigerian workers.”
On the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, the council said the payment was long overdue, noting that it was expected to take effect in July 2024 alongside the implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage.
It explained that workers in state and local government establishments would also benefit from the allowance from November 2026, while outstanding payments dating back to May 1, 2026, would be cleared in three instalments.
The agreement further provides for the establishment of a tripartite negotiation committee involving the government, organised labour and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
According to the council, the proposed committee was among the key demands behind the three-day warning strike it initially announced on October 2, 2026.
On the health sector, the JNPSNC disclosed that discussions addressed the proposed review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a demand health workers have reportedly pursued for 13 years.
It said the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) had been directed to complete its assignment within three weeks and forward its recommendations to the Presidential Committee on Salaries for approval and implementation.
The committee is headed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
The agreement also provides for the settlement of 19 months’ arrears of health workers’ allowances through three instalments, with the first payment scheduled to commence in December 2026.
The council added that the negotiations resolved outstanding issues preventing the issuance of a circular on hazard allowance for agricultural professionals working in the public service.
It said the NSIWC was expected to release a template circular to guide the implementation of the hazard allowance within three weeks.
On proposed tax relief for public servants and private-sector operators, the parties agreed to submit the matter to the National Economic Council for consideration because of its financial implications for federal and state governments, as well as other economic stakeholders.
The JNPSNC said the negotiating parties would meet again within one month to assess progress and ensure that all sides fulfilled their obligations under the agreement.
It, however, expressed concern over the lack of trust between government and labour organisations, citing previous agreements with trade unions that were not implemented.
The council said government representatives had assured the meeting that the latest agreement involving the NLC, JNPSNC and JOHESU would not be abandoned.
Addressing the TUC’s rejection of the N70,000 transportation allowance, the council argued that the Congress was not involved in the negotiations that produced the agreement.
While recognising the TUC’s right to disagree with the outcome, it challenged the organisation to negotiate a higher allowance if it believed the amount agreed upon was insufficient for workers.
The JNPSNC also dismissed the perception that the NLC represents only junior public servants, maintaining that its affiliated unions have members across government ministries, departments and agencies, including officers at directorate level.
The circular stated: “It is equally expedient to disabuse the notion that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is a Union of junior workers, whereas, all the unions affiliated to Nigeria Labour Congress have members across all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Public Service up to Directorate level and even some top-notch Public Servants are due-paying members of Trade Unions of their respective choices.”
Reiterating its position on the TUC’s opposition, the council said the Congress should acknowledge that it was not part of the negotiations with the Federal Government before criticising the agreement.
It added: “However, it will be highly commended that the Trade Union Congress can get a higher amount above N70,000 already agreed to by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), which will be an added benefit to Public Servants.”
Established in 1948, the JNPSNC provides a platform for negotiations between government and public service trade unions on wages, minimum wage implementation, workers’ welfare and industrial disputes.
The council praised the Federal Government, NLC, JOHESU and their leadership for reaching the agreement, saying the welfare of public servants should remain the priority despite disagreements among labour organisations.
It maintained that the resolutions were reached after extensive discussions and due diligence, adding that opposition from individual trade unions would not prevent their implementation.
“Consequently, rejection of any of the items by any Trade Union is inconsequential to the implementation of the agreement (especially the payment of N70,000, seventy thousand naira, among others) because a wider spectrum of workers and other stakeholders across the country have applauded the decision as a right step in a right direction,” the council said.
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