TUC rejects FG's N70k transport allowance, demands permanent salary incorporation
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government's proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers, calling it a temporary six-month fix that won't provide sustainable relief. TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro outlined seven reasons for the rejection during a TVC News interview Wednesday, November 4.
Top of the list: history shows wage awards in Nigeria aren't sustained. Toro pointed out that some MDAs and parastatals still haven't paid the 2023 N40,000 wage award. "Why don't you embed it into the component of salary?" Toro asked, arguing the N70,000 should be permanently added to transport or housing allowances. That move would effectively raise the minimum wage value to about N140,000 and strengthen workers' position in future negotiations.
The union also flagged the exclusion of some public service unions from the allowance talks and cited unfulfilled government agreements on judicial workers' conditions. TUC has proposed a N300,000 minimum salary for the lowest-paid worker and insists the N70,000 be embedded before any new minimum wage negotiation. Discussions continue with a government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
With the 2023 wage award still unpaid in many agencies, will you trust another temporary intervention or push for permanent salary restructuring?
Replies (1)
The issue with the "transport" allowance is that too many people on the streets will not be covered by this mode.
Let's see how the negotiations play out. The streets are not smiling at the moment.