•Rising transport costs, low wages push FCT workers to the brink

As rising living costs and stagnant wages continue to squeeze workers, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has called on the Federal Government and employers to urgently roll out palliative measures and flexible work arrangements, warning that workers especially in Abuja, are being pushed to the brink by transportation and housing challenges.

The council stressed that beyond survival, the current realities are eroding workers’ dignity and productivity, with many unable to afford decent accommodation within the city, forcing them into long and costly daily commutes from the outskirts.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on the situation, the TUC FCT Council chairperson, Comrade Amoge Chukwudi, described organised labour as a vital bridge within the tripartite system, mediating not only between workers and government, but also with employers.

“We are more like mediators between workers and the other arms of the tripartite. So, it’s not even just with the government alone, but also with employers. We owe our members three major things. First of all, their jobs are secured. Secondly, that they get appropriate welfare commensurate with the work they do. And thirdly, social justice: that every right of theirs is upheld, both by the government and by their employers,” she said.

Chukwudi noted that current earnings have fallen far short of meeting workers’ needs, as inflation and rising costs continue to outpace wages.

“With the issues we have on ground now, obviously what people are earning is not meeting their expectations; it is not exactly taking them home. We are hopeful that this situation will not last for too long. We are hopeful that it won’t persist,” she added.

She pointed out that several governments globally have already introduced support measures to cushion the impact of economic hardship, urging Nigerian authorities to act decisively. She also noted that some states within the country have begun to respond. “In the meantime, there are different measures being adopted by governments in different countries. Some governments are giving their workers palliative benefits. Even within Nigeria, some states: Oyo State, for example are already giving their workers some financial support, including weekly transportation allowances, which is one of the major challenges affected by the current situation,” she said.

Highlighting the sharp decline in living standards nationwide, she advocated flexible work arrangements as part of immediate relief strategies.

“We also know that the standard of living all over the country has really gone down. So we are expecting that governments and employers can provide flexible work opportunities. We should begin to seriously consider work-from-home strategies, perhaps a system where you work one week in the office and the next week from home, or a roster arrangement that helps workers reduce costs while still meeting their job responsibilities,” she explained.

Chukwudi further recalled that interim allowances had been used in the past during critical economic periods, suggesting a similar approach in the current situation.

“We are also aware that the government has talked about augmenting transportation costs and providing certain allowances. We’ve seen similar situations in the past, even during the minimum wage negotiations, where interim allowances were introduced before full implementation. So, if we are able to have such allowances in place, support to cushion transportation costs—I believe employers can also complement this by allowing more flexible work arrangements, including remote work, to help workers save on commuting expenses,” she said.

She added that discussions were ongoing at the national level to explore broader palliative support for workers across sectors. “At the national level, we are also exploring the possibility of some form of palliative support for workers, both in the private and public sectors, to help them survive this difficult period,” she stated.

Also speaking, the TUC FCT Council Secretary, Comrade Sunday Joseph, painted a stark picture of the daily realities confronting workers, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory.

“This period is truly challenging for workers. What we want now, as a Council, is for the government and employers to provide some form of assistance whether through palliatives or subsidies, to ease the burden of getting to work. This could also include support such as accommodation for workers,” he said.

Joseph highlighted the growing housing crisis in Abuja, noting that most workers are priced out of the city centre and forced to live far from their workplaces.

“If you look at the FCT, most workers do not live in the city centre; they live on the outskirts, and it is extremely difficult to commute daily. Even in those outskirts, accommodation is not affordable for many workers. The minimum wage is simply not sufficient: no worker can afford decent housing on it,” he said.

He stressed that the situation has not only increased commuting costs but also diminished workers’ quality of life.

“That is why most workers are forced to live far outside the city centre, and we believe this is not right,” he added.

Joseph recalled previous efforts by the Council to address the housing gap through institutional partnerships but expressed concern over the lack of progress.

“In the past, the Council tried to facilitate partnerships with developers and institutions like the Federal Mortgage Bank to provide subsidized housing for workers. However, we are not sure of the current status of that programme,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to urgently revive and strengthen such housing initiatives to ensure workers can live decently within the city.

“We are therefore calling on the government to revisit and revive that initiative, so that workers can have access to decent housing at affordable rates, enabling them to live and work with dignity within the city,” Joseph said.

The Council warned that without swift and coordinated intervention, the worsening economic pressures could further strain industrial relations and deepen hardship for millions of Nigerian workers. (Nigerian Tribune)