TUC Rejects FG’s N70,000 Transport Allowance, Demands Permanent Salary Increase

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers, insisting that the money should be permanently incorporated into their monthly salaries rather than paid as a temporary relief package.

The Congress said the proposed six-month intervention would not provide sustainable financial relief to Nigerian workers, who continue to grapple with rising living costs, transportation expenses and declining purchasing power.

TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, disclosed the union’s position during an interview with TVC News on Wednesday, November 4, explaining seven major reasons behind the rejection.

Why don’t you embed it into the component of salary?

Toro argued that previous government interventions had shown that temporary wage awards were often unreliable, citing outstanding payments owed to workers in some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

He specifically recalled the N40,000 wage award introduced in 2023, noting that some government agencies had yet to fulfil their payment obligations.

According to him, making the N70,000 allowance a permanent component of workers’ salaries would provide more meaningful and lasting benefits.

“Why don’t you embed it into the component of salary? Say, for instance, N70,000 is added to either transport or housing allowance of workers,” he said.

The TUC secretary-general explained that incorporating the amount into workers’ salaries could effectively increase the value of the existing N70,000 minimum wage to approximately N140,000.

He added that such an arrangement would also strengthen workers’ bargaining position during future minimum wage negotiations.

Toro further questioned the sustainability of the proposed arrangement, asking what would happen if negotiations for a new minimum wage were not concluded before the six-month payment period expired.

He also raised concerns over the alleged exclusion of some public service unions from the negotiations that produced the proposed allowance.

Other issues highlighted by the Congress include outstanding agreements between organised labour and the Federal Government, particularly commitments relating to judicial workers.

Toro disclosed that the TUC had presented its demands to the government before the N70,000 transport allowance was announced, adding that discussions were ongoing with a government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The Congress maintained that Nigerian workers require permanent improvements in their earnings rather than short-term financial interventions that may not address the economic challenges confronting households.

Beyond its position on the transport allowance, the TUC has also proposed a N300,000 monthly salary for the lowest-paid worker, signalling its broader demand for improved wages and better working conditions across the country.