The Kaduna branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has publicly challenged Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s endorsement of the federal government’s new N70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers. Oshiomhole, a former NLC leader and Edo North senator, praised the measure on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Thursday, saying it demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s concern for workers’ welfare.
“I think this government is doing well. If a man who was on N70,000 now is given N70,000 addition, that makes it N140,000 for him; it’s a hundred percent increase, and if you know what N10,000 means for the real masses, you’ll appreciate that Tinubu has shown that he cares,” Oshiomhole said.
Kaduna NLC chairman Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman described the allowance as a “step in the right direction” but warned that it would only provide short‑term relief. He argued that the extra funds cannot erase the daily financial pressures workers face, noting that rising food prices, transport fares, rent, school fees, hospital bills, electricity and cooking gas have left many unable to meet household expenses.
Suleiman broke down the expected earnings, stating that a typical worker would now take home N170,000 in total – comprising the N70,000 statutory minimum wage, a N30,000 monthly wage award, and the new N70,000 transport support. He emphasized that even this combined amount falls short of covering the soaring cost of living.
Calling for a more substantial wage review, Suleiman urged that negotiations start from N500,000 to align salaries with actual living costs. He also appealed to both federal and state governments to move beyond salary adjustments by implementing measures such as cheaper public transport and other support mechanisms that could ease the financial burden on workers.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
