Absentee Leader Who Resides in the US; Disaster to NLC — Ajaero, Osifo Clash Over N70k allowance

According to a report by The Cable on Monday, November 2, 2026, the disagreement between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers has escalated, with the presidents of both labour centres exchanging accusations during a television interview.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, traded words during separate appearances on Channels Television’s breakfast programme on Monday, with both leaders defending their positions on the proposed six-month allowance.

The dispute centres on whether the N70,000 monthly transport support negotiated with the Federal Government adequately addresses workers’ economic challenges or whether the government should increase salaries instead.

The Federal Government recently announced a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers for six months.

The announcement followed a meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders in Abuja, where both parties reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) outlining agreements on workers’ welfare.

However, the TUC rejected the proposal 24 hours after its announcement, arguing that the government should prioritise a salary increase rather than introduce a temporary transport allowance.

Reacting to the rejection, Ajaero faulted the TUC for opposing an agreement it did not negotiate, insisting that the union should have engaged the government independently to secure better terms for its members.

Osifo subsequently maintained that discussions about the allowance predated Ajaero’s meeting with the government, adding that the TUC had also been involved in engagements concerning workers’ welfare.

Speaking on Channels Television, Ajaero defended the NLC’s negotiations with the Federal Government, explaining that the N70,000 allowance emerged from discussions initiated after the congress issued an ultimatum to the government.

According to him, the government requested four days to meet with the NLC following the ultimatum, and the subsequent discussions resulted in several agreements, including the transport allowance.

“When he (Festus) said I did not negotiate N70,000 transport allowance, I did not know what he meant,” Ajaero said.

He explained that the allowance was part of the collective bargaining agreement reached between the NLC and the government.

The NLC president also challenged Osifo to account for the 90 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses reportedly donated to the TUC by the Federal Government.

Ajaero subsequently questioned Osifo’s presence in Nigeria, describing him as an “absentee president” and alleging that the TUC leader frequently travels between Nigeria and the United States.

“He is an absentee president of the TUC. He does not live in Nigeria. He comes in from the US to attend meetings and rush back. He serves on the board of PENCOM,” Ajaero alleged.

He further challenged Osifo and the Nigeria Immigration Service to establish whether the TUC president had spent between four and five months in Nigeria during the year.

According to Ajaero, holding a leadership position in a national labour organisation while allegedly residing abroad raises questions about commitment to the responsibilities of the office.

Osifo appeared on the same television programme shortly after Ajaero’s interview session, where he was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

The TUC president expressed disappointment over Ajaero’s comments, saying he sympathised with the Nigerian labour movement because of what he described as a decline in its leadership standards.

Osifo launched a strong attack on his NLC counterpart, describing him as a “disaster to the trade union movement in Nigeria”.

He also insisted that the NLC had no authority to negotiate on behalf of TUC members, stressing that the congress operates as an independent labour organisation with its own recognised leadership.

Responding to the allegation that he resides in the United States, Osifo described Ajaero’s statement as unfortunate.

He explained that before leaving office as president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in August, he had been actively involved in negotiations with employers across different workplaces to secure salary increases for workers.

Osifo disclosed that he was currently in the United Kingdom attending a training programme on advanced leadership and management.

He maintained that his international engagements should not be interpreted as an absence from his responsibilities as TUC president.

Beyond defending his whereabouts, the TUC president accused Ajaero of lacking the necessary experience and skills to negotiate effectively with the government.

He argued that workers were being shortchanged because of what he described as the NLC president’s inability to properly handle negotiations.

“Ajaero has never led any union in Nigeria, that is why he does not understand the principles of negotiation,” Osifo said.

He recommended that the NLC president undergo further training to improve his understanding of collective bargaining and labour negotiations.

“What I will recommend for him is training and retraining,” he added.

The exchange has further exposed the disagreement between Nigeria’s two major labour centres over the best approach to securing improved welfare for workers amid rising living costs.

While the NLC maintains that the N70,000 transport allowance represents an outcome of negotiations with the Federal Government, the TUC insists that temporary financial support is insufficient and that a salary increase would provide a more sustainable solution.

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