Reuben Abati has challenged the Federal Government’s decision to restrict its N70,000 monthly transport allowance to public servants, arguing that private sector employees face the same pressure from expensive fuel and commuting costs.
The Arise Television presenter and former presidential aide questioned the scope of the intervention on Wednesday, 28 October, a day after government representatives and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders reached an agreement on workers’ welfare in Abuja.
Under the arrangement, the government will provide the transport support for six months from November 2026. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment convened the negotiations, with Labour Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi chairing the meeting and NLC President Joe Ajaero leading the union’s delegation, according to Channels Television’s report on the agreement.
Abati argued that employment outside government service did not shield workers from rising living expenses. He questioned who would provide comparable assistance to private sector employees when consumers buy fuel and other goods from the same markets.
Daily Post’s account of his remarks quoted him as saying:
“So, federal government now said there is 70,000 naira transportation allowance for workers that are working in the public service.
“Well, I have an issue with that. Why is it only the public service? It's not only organised labour that is affected in the public service, everybody is affected.
“Private sector, who is going to give us 70,000 naira transportation costs? We all go to the same market. No, we are all buying fuel at a very high cost,” Abati said.
He also questioned the timing of the announcement, suggesting that political considerations could have influenced the initiative.
Turning to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Abati said he had yet to see the implementation of a government directive involving the company.
“And the directive to NNPC, that has not even happened. We have not seen it, so we are all affected.
“So this is discriminatory,” he added.
Reports of the labour agreement indicate that officials have yet to set out some details of the transport payment. PUNCH’s report on the memorandum of understanding noted that the document did not specify exact payment dates or explain the administrative arrangements for disbursement.
The meeting separately urged state and local governments to participate in the intervention and called on unions to pursue implementation at their respective levels.
Beyond transport support, the government agreed to pay outstanding peculiar allowance arrears, effective from 1 May 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November. It also committed to settling 19 months of outstanding allowances for health workers within three months from December.
However, government and labour representatives did not resolve their disagreement over the effective date for implementing the minimum wage arrangements under discussion. They agreed to establish a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and begin meetings immediately.
The government told labour representatives that it respected the congress’s right to seek improved working conditions and was addressing its concerns through a structured intervention.
Both sides agreed to reconvene after one month to assess progress on implementing the resolutions.