The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has defended the Federal Government’s agreement to pay public servants a monthly transportation allowance of ₦70,000 for six months, insisting that the rejection of the deal by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will not stop its implementation.
The council’s position was contained in a circular signed by its National Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, and addressed to national presidents and general secretaries of affiliated unions, as well as state chairmen and secretaries of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils across the country.
According to the circular, the agreement was reached on October 27, 2026, after more than six hours of negotiations involving the Federal Government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), JNPSNC and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), at a meeting presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi.
Under the agreement, eligible public servants are expected to receive ₦70,000 monthly for six months, beginning from November 2026, as temporary relief against rising transportation costs. The council maintained that the TUC’s opposition should not affect the implementation of the arrangement, arguing that the congress was not part of the negotiations.
Beyond the transportation allowance, the agreement also provides for the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, with outstanding arrears dating from May 1, 2026, to be paid in three instalments. The council also disclosed that 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers would be settled in three instalments beginning in December.
On the health sector, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission is expected to complete work on adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure within three weeks and forward its recommendations to the Presidential Committee on Salaries for consideration.
The JNPSNC also urged state and local governments to adopt the transportation allowance arrangement to extend the benefits to public servants at those levels. It said the parties would reconvene within a month to assess the implementation of the agreement.
