Tinubu’s N70,000 Transport Subsidy Will Be Ineffective – Rufai Oseni

Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance for workers, arguing that the intervention would not cover the commuting costs of some civil servants in Lagos.

Oseni said the allowance would not adequately support government employees who live on the mainland but travel daily to work on Lagos Island, where transportation costs can consume a large portion of their earnings.

He said his concerns followed a conversation with a staff member at his studio, who reportedly spends about ₦7,000 daily on transportation.

According to Oseni, the worker’s monthly commuting expenses amount to more than twice Nigeria’s minimum wage, raising questions about whether the proposed government support would provide meaningful relief.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the broadcaster argued that the ₦70,000 intervention would cover only about half of the transportation expenses incurred by some workers in Lagos.

Oseni maintained that the allowance would be inadequate for civil servants facing high daily commuting costs, particularly those travelling between the mainland and Lagos Island.

The Federal Government announced the ₦70,000 transport intervention on Tuesday following concerns over rising living costs and workers’ welfare.

The measure is intended to provide transportation support to workers for six months, beginning in November 2026.