Following intensive dialogue held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Government and Organized Labour—led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)—have reached an agreement addressing economic relief measures, worker allowances, pensions, and pending arrears.
The agreement was signed late Tuesday night, October 27, 2026, by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; Director-General of the Budget Office, Timi Yakubu; and Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Garba Abdul S. U., on behalf of the Federal Government.
The compromise aims to address rising living costs and avert proposed industrial action across key sectors of the economy.
Pecuniary / Relief Item Agreed Amount / Term Implementation / Disbursement Window Transport Intervention ₦70,000 / month (6 Months) November 2026 – April 2027 Pension Allowances & Arrears Peculiar Adjustment (Retro.) November 2026 (3 Monthly Instalments) Health Workers' Arrears (CONHESS) 19–35 Months Outstanding December 2026 (3 Monthly Instalments) Hazard Allowance (Agric. Officers) Pending Verification 2 Weeks Verification Window
Detailed Key Resolutions Reached
1. ₦70,000 Monthly Transport Intervention
Amount: ₦70,000 per month.
Duration: Six (6) consecutive months.
Start Date: November 2026.
Coverage: Public service workers across all grade levels.
2. Pension Allowances and Backlog
Effectivity Date: Approved with retroactive effect from May 1, 2026.
Disbursement Schedule: Payment of accrued arrears will commence in November 2026 and be disbursed in three (3) equal monthly installments.
3. Health Workers' Arrears (CONHESS Adjustment)
Scope: Covers outstanding allowances owed to public health personnel (ranging between 19 and 35 months).
Disbursement Window: To be fully liquidated within three (3) months, beginning December 2026.
4. Minimum Wage Committee & Effective Date
Negotiation Committee: The parties agreed to immediately constitute the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to finalize operational adjustments.
Implementation Date: While both sides agreed on the structure, the exact commencement date for the new minimum wage framework remains subject to final review during committee proceedings.
5. Agricultural Hazard Allowance & Tax Relief
Agricultural Officers: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted beneficiary records to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). Verification will be concluded within two weeks, after which payment guidelines will be published.
Tax Relief: The demand for worker tax concessions was referred to the National Executive Council (NEC), as tax statutory frameworks require executive-legislative concurrence.
Both government officials and labor representatives urged subnational entities—including state and local government administrations—to adopt similar intervention measures to cushion economic pressures for subnational public servants.
The Federal Government and Organized Labour agreed to reconvene in November 2026 (one month from signing) to assess the progress and compliance rate of all scheduled payments.