₦70k: palliative or peanuts? TUC rejects FG's transport allowance as the opposition piles in

The deal (27 Oct): after talks at the Labour Ministry in Abuja, the FG “agreed to commence minimum wage negotiations immediately and approved a N70,000 transport intervention for workers for six months, beginning from November 2026.” The parties reconvene in one month.

The catch: the communiqué says “there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation”, and the payment terms “require further clarification.”

TUC says no: the Trade Union Congress rejected the allowance as “temporary and inadequate”, asking: “How can workers be expected to trust fresh promises when previous obligations remain outstanding?” It argues the FG could raise the lowest wage to as much as ₦300,000; labour has also pressed a ₦500,000 demand.

The opposition: Atiku Abubakar (ADC) says ₦70,000 buys just 50 litres of petrol at ₦1,400 a litre: “That is hardship dressed up as a wage increase.” Prof. Pat Utomi asked: “How does Tinubu sleep at night?”

The government's side: officials say the law provides for a minimum wage review every three years, and the FG says it is addressing labour's concerns “through structured interventions.”