The Federal Government has approved a N70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, to cushion the effects of rising living costs.

The approval was one of the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27.

The meeting followed renewed pressure from organised labour over workers’ welfare, transportation costs and outstanding agreements.

Under the agreement, the government also approved the payment of outstanding peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.

However, both parties failed to reach an agreement on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, although they resolved that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and begin meetings immediately.

The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

The memorandum also outlined agreements and discussions on health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.

The transport intervention comes amid persistent concerns over transportation costs and the prices of essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023.

Organised labour has repeatedly called for measures to ease the economic pressure on workers, including improved wages, lower petrol prices and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.

The latest development follows the 2024 negotiations that raised Nigeria’s statutory minimum monthly wage from N30,000 to N70,000, later enacted into law through the National Minimum Wage Act.