Atiku: ₦70,000 Transport Allowance Won’t End Nigerians’ Hardship
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s planned ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public service workers, arguing that the intervention will not address the wider economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said the six-month intervention failed to address rising costs of food, electricity, rent and other essential goods and services.
He made the remarks in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
According to Atiku, the allowance may provide some assistance to eligible workers but cannot resolve the financial pressures confronting households and businesses across the country.
“The cost-of-living crisis reaches beyond transport: energy, food, rent and other essentials affect every part of daily life,” he said.
Atiku questions eligibility for the allowance
The former vice president questioned the decision to direct the intervention at public service workers when private-sector employees, traders, small business owners, transport operators and people working in the informal sector are also affected by rising living costs.
He argued that a temporary allowance for a section of the workforce would not provide a comprehensive response to the economic challenges facing the wider population.
The Federal Government’s agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress provides for a monthly transport intervention of ₦70,000 for public service workers for six months, beginning in November 2026.
The agreement was reached at a conciliation meeting between government representatives and organised labour in Abuja on October 27.
The parties also agreed to begin negotiations on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, although they did not resolve their disagreement on the issue.
Says allowance may cover about 50 litres of petrol
Atiku also questioned the purchasing power of the proposed allowance, using petrol prices to illustrate his concerns.
He said that at approximately ₦1,400 per litre, ₦70,000 would purchase about 50 litres of petrol.
“What meaningful difference can 50 litres make over an entire month?” he asked.
The calculation reflects the price assumption used in his statement. The actual quantity of petrol the allowance could buy would depend on the prevailing pump price and the amount a worker spends on transportation.
Atiku maintained that the intervention would provide only temporary relief without addressing the underlying factors driving up household and business expenses.
Calls for lasting economic measures
The ADC candidate also criticised previous government interventions, including the compressed natural gas initiative and other cost-of-living relief measures, arguing that they had not delivered sufficient benefits to Nigerians.
He accused the administration of relying on temporary payments instead of addressing the broader consequences of its economic policies.
As an alternative, Atiku advocated a transparently managed production subsidy for fuel refined in Nigeria. He argued that such a policy could help reduce pressure on pump prices while introducing safeguards against corruption and financial leakages.
The proposal remains Atiku’s policy position; it has not been announced as part of the government’s latest agreement with organised labour.
He said his political platform would prioritise reducing living costs, improving household incomes and making work more financially rewarding.
“N70,000 may help with transport, but it cannot explain why work, food and running a business have become unaffordable,” he said.
Minimum wage negotiations remain unresolved
The government’s agreement with the NLC includes the establishment of a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, which is expected to begin work immediately.
However, the parties did not reach agreement on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage arrangements under discussion.
The agreement also provides for the payment of outstanding peculiar allowances in three monthly instalments beginning in November, while 19 months of outstanding allowances owed to health workers are to be settled over three months beginning in December.
The government and labour representatives are expected to review implementation of the agreed measures after one month.
Atiku maintained that the transport allowance would not, by itself, resolve the economic pressures affecting Nigerian workers and households.
