The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance, arguing that workers would benefit more from a permanent salary adjustment than a temporary relief package.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, explained that the union had several reasons for opposing the proposal, which is designed as a six-month intervention for workers.
Toro said past experiences had shown that wage awards and temporary allowances were often unsustainable, noting that some ministries, departments and agencies had yet to fully implement previous wage awards.
According to him, certain government agencies are still owing workers the N40,000 wage award introduced in 2023, raising concerns about the effectiveness of another short-term arrangement.
The labour leader argued that the proposed N70,000 should instead be integrated into workers’ salaries through existing components such as transport or housing allowances. He maintained that embedding the amount into salaries would provide lasting benefits and improve workers’ earning capacity.
Toro said incorporating the allowance into regular pay could increase the effective value of the current minimum wage to about N140,000 and strengthen workers’ position during future wage negotiations.
He also questioned the future of the scheme once the six-month period expires, especially if a new minimum wage agreement is not reached within that timeframe.
“What happens if between now and six months the new minimum wage does not set in?” Toro asked, stressing that workers should not lose an income benefit simply because a temporary programme has ended.
The TUC further expressed concerns over what it described as the exclusion of some public sector unions from discussions leading to the allowance proposal.
In addition, the Congress pointed to several unresolved agreements between organised labour and the Federal Government, including commitments affecting judicial workers.
Toro disclosed that labour representatives had already presented their demands before the transport allowance was announced and that negotiations with a government team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation were still ongoing.
Reaffirming the union’s position, he insisted that workers deserve a permanent improvement in their earnings rather than a short-term financial intervention.
The TUC has also advocated a minimum salary of N300,000 for the nation’s lowest-paid workers as part of broader efforts to improve living standards amid rising economic pressures.
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