Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The disagreement between the 2 Labour centres over federal authorities’s accredited N70,000 transportation allowance gave the impression to be deepening as Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has backed Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in opposition to Trade Union Congress (TUC) which rejected allowance.
National Secretary of JNPSNC, Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, stated in round to affiliate unions and state councils that settlement resulting in approval was product of constructive engagement and exhaustive negotiation.
He stated the assembly was presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohamed Maigari Dingyadi, and attended by labour group led by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero with the participation of management of JNPSNC and Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).
According to the round, the assembly was powerful and lasted greater than six hours earlier than either side reached phrases.
Olowoyo stated the N70,000 transportation allowance to be paid for subsequent six months to public servants beginning November 2026 is supposed to subsidize insufferable transportation price being skilled by staff.
He expressed hope the state and native governments with humongous allocations shall be patriotic sufficient to concur with the settlement to enrich the federal authorities effort to ameliorate hardship of staff and dependants.
He stated settlement additionally cemented implementation of lengthy overdue 40 per cent peculiar allowance reflecting N70,000 minimal wage, which should have began since July 2024 when new minimal wage commenced.
Allowance shall be domesticated at sub-national ranges from November 2026 whereas arrears from May 1, 2026 shall be paid in three tranches.
Olowoyo famous the federal authorities agreed to arrange tripartite negotiation committee comprising authorities, labour and NECA representatives with quick impact, which fashioned focal request from JNPSNC beneath Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto that necessitated three-day warning strike referred to as on October 2, 2026.
He disabused the notion that NLC is union of junior staff, saying all unions affiliated to NLC have members throughout Ministries, Departments and Agencies as much as Directorate degree.
He stated clarification turned mandatory due to place taken by TUC which rejected allowance although it was by no means a part of dialogue.
“TUC has explicit right to express opinion on any matter it is directly involved but not on what it was not part of at any stage of engagement or negotiation with the federal government,” he stated.
He nonetheless stated it will be commendable if TUC can safe increased quantity above N70,000 already agreed by NLC, JNPSNC and JOHESU.
The round added that the assembly additionally resolved different long-standing points together with CONHESS adjustment demand for previous 13 years, with National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) given three weeks to complete work and ahead to Presidential Committee on Salaries headed by the Minister of Finance for approval.
It accredited fee of 19-month arrears of well being staff allowances in three installments from December 2026, and resolved issuance of round for hazard allowance to agricultural skilled officers inside three weeks.
On tax reduction, it was agreed the matter shall be offered to National Economic Council as it entails the federal and state governments.
The assembly gave window of 1 month to reconvene to guage implementation degree.
Olowoyo stated rejection of any merchandise by any commerce union is inconsequential to implementation as a result of wider spectrum of staff has applauded determination as proper step in proper path.
