The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has faulted the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for rejecting the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance, arguing that the union was neither involved in the negotiations nor a signatory to the agreement.
Ajaero said the NLC had consistently maintained that it was engaging the government independently, insisting that the TUC’s decision to oppose the outcome was difficult to understand.
He made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he defended the NLC’s decision to negotiate separately with the Federal Government.
“Why is TUC challenging what was gotten for the workers when we stated clearly that NLC was acting alone?” he asked.
“The agreement was not signed by TUC, and you don’t kick against something that you didn’t negotiate, you never asked for,” the NLC president added.
Ajaero argued that rather than reject the proposed allowance, the TUC could have demanded a higher amount, potentially creating room for the government to harmonise the positions of both labour centres.
“I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one naira, TUC would be asking for 10 naira, and probably the government would harmonise it,” he said.
The disagreement between the two unions, according to Ajaero, stemmed partly from their differences over the timing of negotiations for a new minimum wage.
He recalled that the TUC president had reportedly maintained that the minimum wage would be due for negotiation in August 2027, a position the NLC rejected as inconsistent with the law.
Ajaero said the NLC subsequently proceeded with its own engagement with the government after failing to agree with the TUC on the matter.
He further explained that the TUC had publicly distanced itself from the negotiations after reports emerged that the two labour centres were meeting jointly with the government.
“When we started the first meeting, the media reported that NLC and TUC had a meeting. They threatened us and said they are not part of it,” he said.
According to him, the NLC responded by issuing a statement to clarify that it was negotiating alone.
“We came out with a statement that NLC is on this alone; we are not with TUC. So I would be surprised why TUC would be challenging what was gotten for the workers,” he said.
Addressing demands for a general salary increase, Ajaero said wage adjustments required a formal negotiation process rather than a unilateral decision by the government.
“Does the government dash wage increase? There must be a process put in place,” he said.
He noted that while the TUC had advocated August 2027 as the commencement date for negotiations, the NLC had called for the relevant committee to begin work immediately.
The NLC president reiterated that he was troubled by the TUC’s opposition to the transport allowance, maintaining that the congress should not reject an agreement it had neither negotiated nor signed.
The TUC, however, has maintained that a temporary wage award would not adequately address the economic difficulties confronting Nigerian workers, calling instead for an immediate salary increase.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the TUC President, Festus Osifo, and its Secretary-General, N.A. Toro, said temporary wage awards were insufficient to cushion the effects of prevailing economic hardship.
The congress also accused the Federal Government of failing to fulfil its 2023 wage award commitments to some workers.
It further alleged that the government had neglected a seven-month-old agreement concerning the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions.
The opposing positions have exposed differences between the NLC and TUC over the appropriate strategy for securing improved remuneration for workers, as organised labour continues to press the government for measures to mitigate the rising cost of living.
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