Abuja civil servants lament as transport costs consume over 50% of wages
Many civil servants and residents in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) report that the increasing cost of living, including transportation, affects their health and dignity, making it difficult to manage daily expenses.
For some, transport fares now exceed their food budget.
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted some workers to have expressed their frustrations.
Hassan Yusuf, a civil servant, stated that his daily transport fare increased from about N700 to over N1,500, amounting to more than half of his salary spent solely on transportation.
Florence Ajekwe, another civil servant, reiterated that civil servants spend the better part of their meagre salaries on transportation.
The economic pressure, exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies, has left workers struggling to cover basic expenses with their N70,000 minimum wage.
This situation forces workers to choose between commuting and other essential needs. For those living in distant suburbs like Masaka, daily transport costs can exceed N5,000, making it unsustainable when compared to their monthly salary.
One civil servant living in Masaka noted that spending N5,000 daily on transport to and from work for 22 days a month is prohibitive, not including other costs like feeding.
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As a result of the high costs, many civil servants are resorting to cheaper, often dangerous, means of commuting.
Agnes Pelumi described joining other workers to climb onto the backs of open trucks or overcrowded commercial vehicles as a desperate attempt to cut costs and save for other basic needs.
Some civil servants are also skipping work multiple days a week to save on transport expenses. While there has been no official memo instructing this, informal arrangements have reportedly been made within individual departments to manage staff turnout while ensuring work continuity.
Mrs Elizabeth Ekwere, a civil servant, reduced her workdays with her superiors’ permission to avoid incurring debt due to fuel costs.
Mr Festus Ugwu, another public servant, now uses his vehicle only on Sundays and relies on public transportation despite concerns about the “one chance” gang, to save money.
The situation is also challenging for specific groups, such as workers in the informal sector and trainees.
Chinyere Okafor, a cleaner residing in Nyanya, described having to leave home by 4:30 a.m. to queue for cheaper buses, as missing them means paying almost double the fare for small taxis, which she finds outrageous.
Federal Fire Service trainees undergoing training in the FCT are also struggling with high transportation costs, spending between N5,000 and N10,000 a day on transport for the twice-weekly training sessions, amounting to N20,000 weekly and N80,000 per month for some. These trainees have not received expected training allowances and are sometimes forced to borrow money.
Commercial drivers attribute the hike in fares to increased fuel prices and vehicle maintenance costs, as well as daily levies paid to various unions. The rise in fuel prices is linked to the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, which caused a dramatic increase from approximately ₦185 per litre to over ₦500, with subsequent spikes reaching as high as ₦617 in some areas.
The persistent inflationary pressure, with Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising to 119.52 in April 2025, squeezes household budgets, leaving many Nigerians struggling to afford essentials, including transportation. Although headline inflation eased slightly in April 2025, prices remain historically high. The N70,000 minimum wage, while an improvement for some, is considered insufficient to address the rising cost of living, and there have been delays in its full implementation by the federal government.
The social impact of these challenges extends beyond individual workers, as spending hours daily in dangerous commuting conditions can lead to reduced productivity and declining workplace morale.
Labour unions have called for annual wage adjustments to reflect inflationary trends, arguing that the traditional five-year review system is outdated.
Civil servants and commuters are urging the government to intervene by reintroducing subsidised mass transit buses, regulating fare charges across the city, fast-tracking the implementation of the minimum wage, reducing fuel prices, and stabilizing the prices of essential goods.
Addressing these challenges is seen as requiring coordinated efforts from policy-makers, transport unions, employers, and the government at all levels.
