NLC, TUC clash over Tinubu’s N70,000 transport allowance

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has raised questions about the Trade Union Congress’s rejection of the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance, noting that the union was not part of the negotiations with the government.

Ajaero stated that the NLC had clearly indicated from the outset that it was conducting its negotiations independently of the TUC, which makes the latter’s objection to the outcome surprising.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, Ajaero noted that the TUC did not sign the agreement and contended that the union should not oppose a deal it had no hand in negotiating.

“Why is TUC challenging what was gotten for the workers when we stated clearly that NLC was acting alone?” Ajaero asked.

“The agreement was not signed by TUC, and you don’t kick against something that you didn’t negotiate, you never asked for,” he added.

He also stated that he would have preferred the TUC to demand a higher allowance so that both unions could negotiate with the government towards a common position.

“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 harmonize it,” Ajaero said.

The NLC president recalled that the dispute arose after the TUC president was reportedly said to have stated that the minimum wage would be up for negotiation in August 2027.

Ajaero said the NLC rejected that stance, maintaining that it was not in line with the law, and went ahead with its own talks with the government.

He noted that the TUC had likewise dissociated itself from the process following reports that both labor centers were meeting with the government together.

“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.

Ajaero further noted that the NLC later released a statement making clear it was negotiating on its own.

“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.

Regarding demands for a wage increase, Ajaero contended that such an adjustment could not be approved without a formal process that includes the relevant stakeholders.

“Does the government dash wage increase? There must be a process put in place,” he said.

He observed that the TUC had likewise urged that the process start in August 2027 and added that the NLC had pushed for the relevant committee to begin work right away.

Ajaero said he was still troubled by the TUC’s stance on the transport allowance, asking why the union would turn down an arrangement it had neither negotiated nor secured.

“I have been worried for some time now. Why do you say you reject something that was not given to you?” he said.

Chronicle NG reports that the TUC had rejected the proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance and demanded an immediate salary increase for workers.

It stated that temporary wage awards are insufficient to tackle the economic hardship Nigerian workers are facing and insisted that the Federal Government should implement a salary increase instead.

The congress made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its president, Festus Osifo, and secretary-general, N.A. Toro, according to the congress.

The TUC also accused the Federal Government of failing to meet its 2023 wage award obligations to some workers and of ignoring a seven-month-old agreement on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions.

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