The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport palliative, insisting on an immediate salary increase and full implementation of outstanding agreements with workers.
The congress said temporary wage awards were neither sustainable nor far-reaching, citing the failure to fully implement the 2023 wage award.
But the National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Gbenga Olowoyo, accepted the N70,000 wage award, while reaffirming labour’s demand for a N500,000 minimum wage.
Meanwhile, ActionAid Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have decried poor implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in some states, with a recent assessment putting compliance at 67% at state level and 48% at local council level.
In a statement signed by President Festus Osifo and Secretary General Nuhu Toro, TUC urged the Federal Government to increase workers’ salaries without waiting for another negotiation.
The congress argued there is no legal impediment to increasing salaries beyond the minimum wage, noting that some states have already raised wages above N100,000. It said the government could immediately raise pay of its lowest-paid workers to N300,000, with appropriate consequential adjustments.
“The statutory minimum wage sets a wage floor, not a ceiling,” TUC said, adding that it communicated its position in a demand letter dated October 8, 2026, after its National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja.
“How can workers be expected to trust fresh promises when previous obligations remain outstanding?” it queried.
It called on federal, state and local governments to introduce measurable interventions to reduce cost of essential goods, ensure prompt payment of salaries and pensions, and curb exploitative labour practices.
On the new wage, Olowoyo, speaking on Arise News after a meeting between organised labour and FG that lasted over six hours, welcomed the N70,000 monthly transport support for six months starting next month.
“I think with what happened today – the negotiation that lasted over six hours – and with the outcome of the meeting, it is a good omen,” he said.
“The template of N500,000 is still subsisting. At the same time, if government is able to dance around N500,000, we would be alright to support the President. So, we are not going to be rigid, but reasonable,” Olowoyo added.
ActionAid and NLC also called for immediate negotiations for a new minimum wage and minimum pension, warning that inflation and naira depreciation have eroded purchasing power.
According to a study presented in Abuja, although many states fully implemented or exceeded N70,000, Zamfara and Yobe are yet to achieve full compliance at local council level, particularly in schools. Partial compliance was found in Ondo, Imo, Edo, Bauchi and Kano.
On pensions, the report found compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme below 20% in the organised private sector and about 70% in private schools, while fully operational in the public sector.
It revealed that although the 36 states and FCT received N5.36trn in 2024, many were unable to offset pension and gratuity liabilities estimated at N626.8bn.
NLC President Joe Ajaero said negotiations for a new minimum wage should begin immediately ahead of the next review due in April. The 2024 Act raised the wage from N30,000 to N70,000 and reduced the review cycle from five to three years.
ActionAid Country Director Andrew Mamedu said the N70,000 applies to workers on Grade Level 1, Step 1, with consequential adjustments expected for other grades.
