Labour, however, noted that the approved ₦70,000 transport allowance demonstrates the government’s willingness to address workers’ concerns.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Despite the approval of a ₦70,000 transport allowance for workers by the President Bola Tinubu-led government, the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, has reaffirmed that organised labour will continue to push for its ₦500,000 minimum wage demand.
He made this known on Tuesday while speaking during an interview on Arise News.
Earlier, the federal government approved a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, following a conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The resolutions were contained in a statement signed by Annah Daniel, the Head of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
However, reacting to the initiative by the FG to cushion the effect of high transport costs on workers, Olowoyo described the intervention as a positive outcome of negotiations.
According to him, the agreement demonstrated the government’s willingness to address workers’ concerns, adding that labour expected the government to honour its commitment and implement the intervention as agreed.
“I think with the recent development that happened today, the negotiation lasted over six hours, and with the outcome of the meeting, I think it is a good omen,” Olowoyo said.
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He explained that the transport support was designed to benefit workers at all levels, including those at the grassroots, following concerns over the increasing cost of transportation and the pressure of higher fuel prices on household budgets.
He maintained, however, that the ₦70,000 intervention should serve as temporary relief while discussions on a new minimum wage continued.
“The template of ₦500,000 is still subsisting. And at the same time, if government is able to dance around ₦500,000, we would be alright to support the President. So I want to believe that, like I told you, we are not going to be rigid, but at the same time, we’ll be reasonable,” he said.
The JNPSNC secretary explained that the proposed minimum wage was informed by the responsibilities workers shoulder, including providing for their immediate families, paying school fees, and meeting other essential household expenses.
He stressed that although labour was not prepared to abandon its demand, it remained willing to negotiate with the government to arrive at a mutually acceptable figure.
Olowoyo also expressed confidence that the agreement reached with the government would lead to further discussions, particularly on the establishment of a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage—one of labour’s key demands.
