The Federal Government has approved a monthly transport allowance of Seventy Thousand Naira for public servants for a period of six months, beginning from November 2026, as part of measures to cushion the effects of rising transportation costs and other living expenses in the country.

The approval, which was announced in Abuja on Wednesday, is aimed at providing immediate relief to federal civil servants who have been grappling with increased cost of transportation following the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant hike in fuel prices.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the transport allowance is a temporary intervention designed to support workers and enhance their productivity in the face of current economic realities.

The statement noted that the allowance will be paid to all categories of federal public servants across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, for six months, after which a comprehensive review of the welfare package for civil servants will be undertaken.

It explained that the payment, which will commence in November 2026, will be made alongside the monthly salaries of workers and will not be subject to any form of deduction or tax, as it is intended to directly support their transportation needs.

The Federal Government said the decision to introduce the allowance followed extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the leadership of organised labour, who had been clamouring for improved welfare packages for workers.

It added that the allowance is part of broader palliative measures being implemented by the administration to mitigate the impact of economic reforms on workers and vulnerable segments of the population.

The government assured that it remains committed to the welfare of its workforce and will continue to initiate policies and programmes that will improve their living conditions and boost their morale for effective service delivery.

It urged public servants to reciprocate the gesture by being more dedicated, punctual and committed to their duties, as well as supporting the government’s reform agenda aimed at repositioning the economy for sustainable growth.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the announcement, with some stakeholders commending the government for the initiative, while others have raised concerns about its adequacy and timing.

Reacting to the development in an interview with newsmen in Uyo, public affairs analyst, Mrs. Shaineze Essong, questioned the timing of the announcement, noting that it is coming at a time when the country is preparing for forthcoming general elections.

Essong said although the allowance is a welcome development, the timing raises questions about whether it is genuinely intended to alleviate the suffering of workers or is politically motivated to score cheap political points ahead of the elections.

She argued that the Federal Government should have introduced the allowance much earlier when workers were most affected by the hike in transportation costs, rather than waiting until the eve of elections to do so.

The public affairs analyst also urged the government to extend similar relief measures to Nigerians outside the federal public service, who are also bearing the brunt of rising transportation costs and high cost of living.

According to her, the majority of Nigerians who are not in the federal civil service, including private sector workers, traders, artisans, farmers and the unemployed, are also facing serious transportation challenges and deserve to be supported.

She called on the government to consider introducing a comprehensive transport subsidy or other palliatives that would benefit all Nigerians, irrespective of their employment status, in order to ensure equity and fairness.

In a related development, another analyst, Mr. Edward Ekpo, observed that the Seventy Thousand Naira allowance might be inadequate for workers who travel long distances to their workplaces, particularly amid rising fuel prices and transportation fares.

Ekpo noted that with the current cost of fuel at over One Thousand Naira per litre in many parts of the country, and transport fares having increased by over 200 percent in the last one year, the allowance may not be enough to cover the monthly transportation expenses of many workers.

He cited the example of workers who reside in satellite towns and travel to the city centre for work daily, saying they spend a significant portion of their salaries on transportation and that Seventy Thousand Naira may only cover a fraction of their actual transport costs.

The analyst suggested that the government should consider a more sustainable approach, such as providing staff buses, improving public transportation system, or reviewing the minimum wage to reflect current economic realities, rather than a temporary allowance.

He also urged the government to fast-track the implementation of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses and other alternative transportation initiatives to reduce the cost of transportation for all Nigerians on a long-term basis.

Despite the concerns raised, many public servants have welcomed the announcement, describing it as a step in the right direction and a demonstration that the government is sensitive to their plight, while hoping that more robust and permanent measures will be introduced in due course.