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The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has faulted the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for opposing the Federal Government’s N70,000 transport allowance, insisting that the congress should negotiate its own demands instead of rejecting an agreement it did not participate in.
Ajaero described the TUC’s position as improper during an interview on Thursday, arguing that the organisation was not involved in the discussions that produced the allowance.
The Federal Government had announced the six-month transport support for public sector workers on Tuesday after a conciliation meeting with NLC leaders and government representatives in Abuja. The agreement was subsequently captured in a memorandum of understanding.
However, the TUC rejected the arrangement on Wednesday, arguing that temporary wage awards would not provide lasting relief for workers. The congress, through a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, called for an increase in workers’ salaries.
Responding to the rejection, Ajaero maintained that the TUC could not reasonably oppose an outcome of negotiations in which it had no direct involvement.
“The agreement was not signed by TUC. You don’t kick against something you did not negotiate or ask for,” he said.
He argued that the TUC could have used its own negotiations with the government to demand a higher amount rather than challenge the NLC’s agreement.
“I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one naira, TUC will be asking for 10 naira,” Ajaero said.
The NLC president also questioned the TUC’s position on transportation costs, claiming that the congress had not previously sought government intervention over the rising cost of commuting.
On the TUC’s preference for salary increases, Ajaero said such adjustments required negotiations and an established process rather than being granted automatically by the government.
“TUC never asked for intervention as a result of the rising cost of transportation. On the issue of asking for wage increase, does the government gift wage increase? There must be a process put in place,” he said.
Ajaero reiterated that the TUC remained free to present its own demands to the Federal Government but should allow the NLC to pursue the agreement it negotiated.
The disagreement highlights differing positions between the two labour centres on how best to secure relief for workers amid rising living and transportation costs.
