The Federal Government has approved a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for public service workers for six months, beginning in November 2026, as part of efforts to ease the financial pressure on workers amid rising transportation and living costs.
The agreement was reached during a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on October 27, 2026.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by representatives of both parties, the transport intervention will cover public service workers across all levels and run for six months.
However, the agreement has not provided a detailed breakdown of individual beneficiary categories or the administrative arrangements for payment.
List of workers expected to benefit
Based on the agreement's description of public service workers, the intervention is expected to cover eligible employees in the Federal Government's public service, including:
Federal civil servants: Workers serving in federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Administrative officers: Public servants working in government administrative and secretariat offices.
Education sector workers: Eligible employees in federal government education institutions and agencies.
Health sector workers: Eligible public service employees working in federal health institutions and government health agencies.
Agricultural officers: Public employees working in government agricultural departments and agencies, although their separate hazard allowance arrangement is still undergoing verification.
Other public service employees: Workers across different cadres and levels of the federal public service covered by the implementation of the agreement.
The precise list of eligible institutions and employees is yet to be published in a detailed government implementation directive.
Will state and local government workers benefit?
State and local government employees may also benefit if their respective authorities adopt and implement the intervention.
The agreement specifically urges state and local governments to key into the relief process and encourages labour unions to push for its implementation.
However, this does not automatically confirm that every state and local government has approved the payment. Workers in these categories should seek clarification from their respective state or local government authorities.
Who is not expressly covered?
The agreement does not identify private-sector employees, traders, artisans, business owners or self-employed Nigerians as direct beneficiaries.
The intervention is a public service welfare measure negotiated between the Federal Government and organised labour, rather than a general cash payment for everyone affected by rising transportation costs.
How much will workers receive?
Eligible workers are expected to receive ₦70,000 monthly for six months, from November 2026 to April 2027.
This amounts to ₦420,000 over the full six-month period for each eligible beneficiary, provided the agreement is fully implemented.
The Federal Government and the NLC have not yet specified the exact monthly payment date or whether the allowance will be paid alongside workers' regular salaries.
The agreement also covers outstanding peculiar allowance arrears, 19 months of health workers' allowance arrears and other welfare issues.
For now, public servants are advised to follow announcements from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, relevant ministries and their labour unions for further details on eligibility and payment arrangements.