The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for opposing the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers, arguing that the union was not part of the negotiations that produced the agreement.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, Ajaero said the NLC had made it clear from the outset that it was negotiating independently with the government, making the TUC’s rejection of the arrangement difficult to understand.
“Why is TUC challenging what was gotten for the workers when we stated clearly that NLC was acting alone?” he queried. According to him, the TUC neither participated in the talks nor signed the agreement and therefore should not oppose an outcome it did not bargain for.
“The agreement was not signed by TUC, and you don’t kick against something that you didn’t negotiate, you never asked for,” Ajaero said.
The NLC leader noted that he would have preferred the TUC to seek a higher allowance, allowing both labour centres to negotiate from different positions and potentially secure a more favourable outcome for workers.
“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 added.
Ajaero traced the disagreement between both unions to differing views on the timing of minimum wage negotiations. He said the TUC had maintained that wage negotiations should begin in August 2027, a position the NLC considered inconsistent with existing legal provisions.
According to him, tensions increased when reports suggested that both labour centres were jointly engaging the government. He said the TUC quickly distanced itself from the process, prompting the NLC to publicly clarify that it was negotiating on its own.
“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. The NLC subsequently issued a statement confirming that it was handling the discussions independently, Ajaero explained.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the TUC’s latest stance, he questioned why the union would reject a benefit that was not negotiated on its behalf.
“I have been worried for some time now, why you say you reject something that was not given to you,” he said.
Ajaero also dismissed suggestions that the government could simply announce salary increases without due process, stressing that wage reviews require formal negotiations involving all relevant stakeholders.
“Does the government dash wage increase? There must be a process put in place,” he stated.
The comments come after the TUC rejected the proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance, insisting that a permanent salary increase would be more effective in addressing the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers.
In a statement signed by TUC President Festus Osifo and Secretary-General N.A. Toro, the congress argued that temporary wage awards could not adequately cushion the impact of rising living costs. The union also accused the Federal Government of failing to fulfil some previous wage obligations and delaying the implementation of agreements affecting health sector workers.
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