A growing number of civil servants across Nigeria have begun to skip work as escalating transportation costs continue to outpace the new minimum wage, sparking concerns about the impact on productivity and public services. The issue, which has been brewing for months, is now becoming a widespread problem as the cost of commuting has reached alarming levels, leaving many workers unable to afford the daily expenses associated with getting to their offices.
The Nigerian government had recently implemented a new minimum wage policy aimed at alleviating the financial burden on public sector workers. However, the hike in transportation fares, driven by inflation and the rising cost of fuel, has quickly undermined the intended relief, leaving civil servants struggling to make ends meet.
Workers in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt have reported significant increases in transport fares, with many bus and taxi services raising prices by over 50%. In some instances, the cost of commuting has doubled, making it nearly impossible for employees to balance their transport expenses with the new wage increases. For many, the cost of getting to work now accounts for a substantial portion of their monthly income, leaving little room for other essential expenses such as food, healthcare, and housing.
As a result, there has been a noticeable rise in absenteeism among civil servants, with many opting to stay home rather than incur the prohibitive costs of commuting. Some have resorted to cutting back on their work hours or seeking alternative forms of transportation, such as carpooling, to mitigate the financial strain. In some cases, employees have even been forced to take on additional jobs or engage in side hustles just to make ends meet.
The situation is particularly dire for those living in rural areas or far from urban centers, where transport costs are even higher due to limited options and poor infrastructure. These workers face the added challenge of limited access to affordable public transport, further exacerbating the financial burden.
Labor unions have expressed their concern over the issue, calling on the government to take immediate action to address the growing disparity between wages and transport costs. The unions argue that the new minimum wage, while a step in the right direction, is rendered ineffective if workers cannot afford to get to work in the first place. They have called for an urgent review of the transport sector and greater subsidies to help mitigate the impact on workers.
In the meantime, many civil servants are left in a difficult position, with no clear solution in sight. The government’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of public sector employees are at risk of being overshadowed by the skyrocketing costs of commuting, leaving workers to grapple with an increasingly difficult economic reality.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the government will take further steps to address the issue and ensure that the new minimum wage delivers the intended benefits for civil servants across the country.