Atiku faults FG’s N70,000 transport allowance, says govt has failed

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s N70,000 month-to-month transport allowance for public service employees, arguing that it affords solely momentary reduction amid Nigeria’s rising value of dwelling.

In an announcement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku mentioned the allowance would purchase solely about 50 litres of petrol at an estimated worth of N1,400 per litre.

The allowance, scheduled to start in November 2026, adopted an settlement between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to offer six months of economic assist to public service employees.

Atiku argued that the financial hardship prolonged past transportation to incorporate meals, electrical energy, hire and different important bills. He additionally questioned why private-sector staff, merchants, small-business homeowners and casual employees had been excluded.

“If public service workers receive N70,000 monthly for transport from November, what happens to private sector workers, traders, small businesses, transport operators and millions without formal jobs?” he requested.

He urged the federal government to make clear eligibility standards, publish fee schedules and resolve excellent minimal wage negotiations.

Atiku additionally criticised the federal government’s compressed pure gasoline (CNG) initiative, saying it had did not ship the promised discount in transport prices.

“These rushed announcements smack of political bribery and corruption,” he mentioned.

He proposed a transparently managed manufacturing subsidy for petrol refined in Nigeria as a substitute, arguing that the federal government ought to sort out corruption and monetary leakages reasonably than place the burden of its insurance policies on residents.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) additionally rejected the proposed allowance on Wednesday, insisting that the federal government ought to improve employees’ salaries as an alternative of counting on momentary monetary assist.

In an announcement, TUC President Festus Osifo and Secretary-General Nuhu Toro described the intervention as insufficient to deal with employees’ rising monetary difficulties.