Barely 24 hours after the federal government approved N70,000 transport allowance for Nigerian workers, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday rejected the offer, demanding an immediate salary increase and full implementation of the agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress said temporary wage awards were inadequate to address the economic hardship facing workers, insisting that the government could raise salaries without waiting for negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
In a statement signed by its President General, Comrade Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Comrade N. A. Toro, the TUC said it conveyed its demands to the government in a letter dated October 8, 2026, following a meeting of its National Administrative Council in Abuja.
It said subsequent consultations with government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, failed to change its opposition to the proposed wage award.
The congress argued that no law required the government to negotiate a new minimum wage before increasing salaries, noting that there was no legal ceiling on workers’ pay.
It proposed raising the salaries of the lowest-paid federal workers from N70,000 to N300,000, with corresponding adjustments across other salary grades.
The TUC also cited the alleged failure to fully implement the N40,000 wage award agreed by the government and organised labour on October 2, 2023. It said some workers remained unpaid for one or two months, while others received nothing.
TUC said, payments to beneficiaries were also irregular, sometimes separated by one or two months, the congress alleged, adding that more than 80 per cent of states and the informal sector did not implement any form of wage award.
It insisted that salary increases, rather than temporary relief, offered workers more reliable support amid rising living costs.
The statement reads, “Salary increases and not temporary and haphazard measures
In the said letter, our position was very clear, Federal Government should review increase salaries of workers. This was hinged on the fact that government does not require minimum wage to be negotiated before increasing workers’ pay as there is no maximum wage law in the country.
Some states today have raised their minimum wage above N100,000 such that federal government can raise the pay of the lowest worker to N300,000 for example from the current N70,000 and then apply the applicable consequential adjustment. While it is good to negotiate minimum wage which will affect other cadre of workers, FGN must raise wage level immediately as there are no law or historical practices stopping it from doing so”.
“Following the letter, the leadership of congress had consultative meetings with FG officials including the Secretary of the Government of the Federation where our position as stated in the letter was further canvassed. The proposal of wage award was mentioned but we vehemently rejected.
Negotiations of a new national minimum wage must not become an excuse for postponing urgent pay increment.”
“TUC then calls on governments at all levels to implement measurable interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services, ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions, protect existing jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and revitalize the productive sector to create decent employment.
While the workers have kept their side of the bargain, the government hasn’t kept its side of the agreement.
This continued failure to honour an explicit commitment violates the principle of good faith, undermines confidence in collective bargaining and is absolutely unacceptable to the TUC.”
“The TUC demands tangible action, not further assurances. It will stand firmly with the affected affiliates and health workers and pursue every lawful and legitimate measure necessary to secure compliance.”
Workers’ welfare is not a privilege. Agreements must be honoured. Workers’ rights must be respected. Government must comply.”
The TUC also accused the Federal Government of failing to honour its agreement with JOHESU, seven months after the unions suspended their industrial action.
It said Osifo led organised labour’s efforts to resolve the dispute, culminating in a conciliation meeting at the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, where both parties signed an agreement.
The government delegation included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; the Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate; and the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
According to the TUC, the agreement provided for the prompt resolution of outstanding issues concerning the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment.
However, the congress said the adjustment remained unimplemented, despite JOHESU suspending its strike in good faith.
It described the delay as a breach of trust that undermined collective bargaining and demanded immediate implementation of the adjustment, a clear timetable, adequate budgetary provisions and consultations with the affected unions.
The TUC warned that health workers should not be expected to continue providing essential services while the government failed to honour its commitments.
It said it would pursue all lawful measures to secure compliance and was awaiting the outcome of a scheduled meeting with the government before deciding its next course of action.