The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers. The congress instead wants an immediate salary increase and the implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The TUC said temporary wage awards would not adequately address the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers. It argued that the government should increase salaries rather than rely on relief measures that may not reach workers consistently.
The congress also accused the Federal Government of failing to fulfil its 2023 wage award obligations to some workers. It further alleged that the government had neglected a seven-month-old agreement on adjusting the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
TUC President Festus Osifo and Secretary-General N.A. Toro disclosed the position in a statement on Wednesday. The statement followed a National Administrative Council meeting held in Abuja on October 8, 2026.
TUC Demands Immediate Salary Review
The congress said it had written to the Federal Government through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. It requested an immediate salary review in response to rising living costs.
According to the TUC, the government does not need to wait for negotiations on the national minimum wage before increasing workers’ pay. It noted that Nigerian law does not impose a maximum wage that prevents employers from paying higher salaries.
“The Federal Government should review increasing workers’ salaries,” the statement said. It added that negotiations over the minimum wage should not prevent employers from improving workers’ earnings.
The congress proposed raising the lowest-paid worker’s monthly salary to ₦300,000 from the current ₦70,000. It also called for corresponding adjustments across other salary levels.
The demand comes amid wider discussions about workers’ earnings and the cost of living. In another report on wage proposals, Sowore pledges a ₦500,000 wage and 24-hour electricity if elected.
Congress Rejects Another Temporary Wage Award
The TUC said its leadership had held consultations with government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. During those engagements, the congress rejected the proposed wage award.
It explained that the previous wage award, agreed upon in October 2023, had not been fully implemented. The congress said this failure raised doubts about the reliability of another temporary arrangement.
“The wage award agreed between FGN and organised labour on the 2nd of October 2023 was to be implemented until a minimum wage was agreed in 2024 but was never implemented holistically,” the statement said.
According to the TUC, some workers are still owed one or two months of payments. Others allegedly received nothing, while some experienced irregular payments and had to make repeated demands.
The congress also claimed that more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector had not benefited from any wage award.
“How do we go back to the same wage award that never benefited all workers?” the TUC asked.
It maintained that permanent salary increases would offer more dependable relief than temporary allowances. The congress also insisted that minimum wage negotiations must not delay urgent pay increases.
For related coverage of labour disputes, read about the NLC’s indefinite strike over teachers’ promotion and welfare in the FCT.
TUC Seeks Measures to Reduce Living Costs
Beyond salary adjustments, the congress called on federal, state and local governments to introduce measurable interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
It urged authorities to pay salaries and pensions promptly, protect existing jobs and curb exploitative labour practices. The TUC also called for measures to revitalise the productive sector and create decent employment.
The congress said economic hardship affects more than federal civil servants. State and local government employees, pensioners, private-sector workers and people in the informal economy also face financial pressure.
It therefore called for adequately funded interventions with clear implementation timelines. According to the TUC, government announcements must translate into tangible improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.
Rising transport costs remain one of the pressures facing households. A related report examines how Lagos commuters were stranded during a protest by bus drivers over alleged extortion.
The cost of transportation also affects the amount workers can spend on food, healthcare and other necessities. The TUC wants government measures to address these pressures alongside salary increases.
TUC Says Previous Wage Award Failed Workers
The congress argued that the 2023 wage award was intended to provide temporary relief while negotiations on a new national minimum wage continued. However, it said inconsistent implementation prevented many workers from benefiting fully.
The TUC questioned why the government would introduce another wage award without resolving outstanding payments under the previous arrangement. It maintained that workers needed a dependable increase in their earnings.
The dispute also highlights the difference between a statutory minimum wage and adjustments to salaries across different grades. A new minimum wage does not automatically resolve every issue involving allowances, salary structures or outstanding entitlements.
Some state governments have announced separate measures affecting public servants. For example, Mbah approved promotions and conversions for more than 2,000 Enugu civil servants, with financial benefits attached to the approved changes.
Meanwhile, Delta teachers have demanded more recruitment, security and teaching materials, highlighting concerns about working conditions beyond salary payments.
JOHESU Agreement Remains Unimplemented
The TUC also accused the Federal Government of failing to honour an agreement reached with JOHESU after months of industrial action.
According to the congress, Osifo led a delegation of organised labour, JOHESU leaders and a representative of another labour congress during negotiations to resolve the dispute.
The talks led to a conciliation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Both sides agreed to a communiqué outlining steps to address the outstanding issues.
The Federal Government delegation included Labour and Employment Minister Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof Muhammad Ali Pate and then Finance Minister Wale Edun also participated.
The TUC said JOHESU suspended its industrial action in good faith after the parties signed the agreement. However, it alleged that the government had failed to fulfil its commitments.
The agreement included resolving outstanding issues concerning the adjustment of CONHESS, which determines the salary structure for affected health workers.
The congress said seven months had passed without implementation of the adjustment. It described the delay as a breach of the agreement between the government and the unions.
For another report involving healthcare workers and unpaid entitlements, read about how LASUTH doctors began an indefinite strike over unpaid allowances.
TUC Demands Immediate CONHESS Adjustment
The congress insisted that health workers should not continue delivering essential services while outstanding commitments remain unfulfilled.
“While the workers have kept their side of the bargain, the government hasn’t kept its side of the agreement,” the statement said.
The TUC warned that failing to honour agreements could weaken confidence in collective bargaining. It argued that both employers and unions must respect negotiated commitments to maintain trust.
The congress demanded immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment. It also called for a clear timetable, the necessary budgetary allocations and consultation with the relevant unions to resolve outstanding issues.
“The TUC demands tangible action, not further assurances,” the statement said.
The congress pledged to support affected unions and pursue lawful measures to compel the government to honour the agreement.
The dispute adds to ongoing concerns about workers’ welfare across Nigeria. In another salary-related development, Oborevwori addressed the 13th-month salary package for Delta workers.
Congress Calls for Respect for Workers’ Rights
The TUC reiterated that workers were not asking for favours. Instead, it said they wanted better living conditions and respect for their rights.
“Workers’ welfare is not a privilege. Agreements must be honoured. Workers’ rights must be respected. Government must comply,” the statement added.
The congress said its next steps would depend on the outcome of its scheduled meeting with the Federal Government. It did not announce an immediate nationwide strike in the statement.
The government’s response and any subsequent negotiations will therefore be important in determining how the dispute develops.
The TUC’s position also comes amid broader concerns about salaries, pensions and the ability of households to meet essential expenses. A related report covers Anambra’s release of documents concerning alleged salary arrears, although the claims in that dispute remain contested.
Nigeria’s Minimum Wage Debate Continues
President Bola Tinubu signed the new national minimum wage law in July 2024, raising the statutory minimum monthly wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. The agreement followed negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour.
The negotiations took place amid the effects of petrol subsidy removal and wider economic reforms. Higher transport, food and household expenses had intensified pressure on workers and their representatives.
Organised labour initially sought a substantially higher minimum wage. The government and employers, however, raised concerns about the ability of state governments and businesses to meet the proposed increases.
The resulting ₦70,000 minimum wage established a new statutory floor for eligible workers. However, it did not automatically resolve demands for salary adjustments across different grades or compensate for every increase in living costs.
The TUC now argues that the government should address these wider concerns through permanent salary increases. It maintains that negotiations over a future minimum wage must not delay urgent action.
Economic pressures also extend beyond wages. For example, petrol prices rose in Abuja after Dangote increased its gantry rate, adding to concerns about transport and household expenses.
TUC Awaits Federal Government’s Response
The congress said it was waiting for the outcome of its scheduled meeting with the Federal Government before deciding on its next course of action.
Its demands include an immediate salary review, a proposed ₦300,000 monthly salary for the lowest-paid worker and consequential adjustments for other salary levels. It also wants the government to settle outstanding 2023 wage award payments.
The TUC has separately demanded implementation of the CONHESS adjustment and a clear timetable for meeting the commitments made to JOHESU.
The congress did not declare a nationwide strike in its statement. Instead, it said it would consider its next steps after the scheduled government meeting.
The dispute reflects continuing pressure on organised labour to secure better wages and protect workers’ purchasing power. Its resolution will depend on the government’s response and progress towards fulfilling the outstanding agreements.
For more on the wider debate over government support and economic hardship, read about the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer beneficiaries.
