The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, have reached a seven-point resolution on the demands raised by labour over workers’ welfare and the cost of living crisis.
The agreement was reached at a conciliation meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, following the communique issued by the Central Working Committee, CWC, and National Executive Council, NEC, of the NLC.
The meeting, which was a follow-up to an earlier session convened on October 22, deliberated on issues bordering on commencement of new national minimum wage discussions, reduction in petroleum pump price, palliatives, public service welfare, CONHESS adjustment for health workers, tax relief and hazard allowance for agricultural workers.
According to the communique signed by the Director-General, Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Garba Abdul, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, both parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately.
The communique, however, noted that there was disagreement on the effective date of implementation of the new minimum wage.
On palliatives and fuel price, the meeting resolved that a transport intervention of N70,000 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months commencing from November 2026, while the approved peculiar allowance effective May 1, 2026, would have its arrears paid in three equal monthly instalments starting November 2026.
It further resolved that the 19 months arrears of allowances owed health workers would be redeemed within three months with effect from December 2026, while the issue of tax relief for workers would be taken to the National Executive Council, NEC, since tax is a statutory matter.
On hazard allowance for agricultural officers and CONHESS adjustment, the meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had submitted the list of beneficiaries to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, for verification within two weeks, while the NSIWC promised to complete the update of the cost implication for CONHESS adjustment within three weeks.
Both parties agreed to reconvene after one month to appraise the level of implementation and urged state and local governments to key into the intervention process, while also enjoining unions to push for its implementation at their respective levels.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
