NLC TACKLES TUC OVER OPPOSITION TO N70,000 TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE DEAL

Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero has criticised the Trade Union Congress for opposing the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 transport allowance, saying the TUC did not participate in the negotiations.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, Ajaero said the NLC had made it clear that it was engaging the government independently.

He questioned why the TUC would reject an agreement it neither negotiated nor signed.

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

Ajaero said he would have preferred the TUC to push for a higher allowance, allowing both labour organisations to work towards a stronger 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 said.

According to him, the disagreement followed the TUC president’s reported position that minimum wage negotiations would become due in August 2027.

Ajaero said the NLC considered that position inconsistent with the law and decided to pursue its own discussions with the government.

He also recalled that the TUC had distanced itself from the talks after media reports suggested both labour centres were jointly involved.

The NLC president maintained that his organisation negotiated the allowance on its own and questioned the basis of the TUC’s opposition.

The supplied report did not include the TUC’s explanation for rejecting the deal.