The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have signed an eight-point resolution to avert a fresh industrial action, including a N70,000 transport intervention for workers at all levels for six months, starting from November 2026.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday at a conciliation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, following an earlier meeting on October 22.
The talks followed a communique issued after a joint meeting of the NLC’s Central Working Committee and National Executive Council. The communique listed grievances over the start date for the national minimum wage discussion and implementation, a reduction in petroleum pump price, palliatives for workers, public service welfare issues raised by the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council, the CONHESS adjustment for health workers, tax relief for workers and hazard allowance for agricultural workers.
The NLC leadership expressed concern over what it called the Federal Government’s attitude to these issues. The Federal Government said it respects the Congress’s right to advocate better working conditions and is making structured interventions on every aspect.
The resolution was signed for the Federal Government by Tanimu Yakubu, Director-General of the Budget Office, and Dr. Garba Abdul S.U., Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. Labour’s signatories were NLC President Joe Ajaero and Olowoyo Gbenga, National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council. Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi signed the overall document.
Both parties agreed to set up the minimum wage negotiations committee, with its inaugural meeting to hold immediately. The resolution, however, noted a disagreement over the effective date of implementation.
Other key resolutions
- Pump price and palliatives: The N70,000 transport intervention will be paid to workers across all levels for six months from November 2026.
- Peculiar allowance: The Federal Government approved it with effect from May 1, 2026. Arrears will be paid in three equal monthly instalments, beginning in November 2026.
- Health workers: Nineteen months of allowance arrears will be paid within three months, starting December 2026.
- Tax relief: Because it is a statutory matter, the issue will go to the National Executive Council for consideration. Labour had argued that tax relief would raise disposable income amid high inflation.
- Agricultural hazard allowance: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and cost implications to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification. The process is expected to finish within two weeks, after which the NSIWC will issue the implementation template.
- CONHESS adjustment: The NSIWC promised to update the cost implication within three weeks, so the Presidential Committee on Salaries can decide on the adjustment.
The meeting also urged state and local governments to key into the intervention, while unions were asked to push for its implementation at sub-national levels.
Both parties will reconvene in one month to review the implementation of the resolutions.
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