Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has called on the Trade Union Congress to sit down with the Federal Government of Nigeria and discuss the terms of a N70,000 monthly transport allowance that the NLC previously negotiated for public‑sector employees.
The TUC publicly rejected the N70,000 allowance, arguing that the government has sufficient resources to provide as much as N300,000 per month. In a statement signed by its President‑General Festus Osifo and Secretary Nuhu Toro, the union said that, given the prevailing economic hardship, workers need a broader salary increase and the full implementation of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) agreement.
Why did the NLC intervene?
Ajaero explained in a Channels TV interview on Thursday that the TUC had not been part of the original negotiations with the government. He described the union’s refusal as “improper” and emphasized that a sister‑agency cannot overturn an agreement reached by another union representing the same workers.
What did the NLC president say?
He remarked, “I would have preferred a situation whereby if the NLC was asking for one Naira, the TUC would be asking for ten Naira.” He added, “The TUC never asked for intervention as a result of the rising cost of transportation. On the issue of asking for a wage increase, does the government gift wage increases? There must be a process put in place.”
What are the core demands of the TUC?
The TUC’s statement highlighted two main points: a substantial rise in salaries to match inflationary pressures and the enforcement of the JOHESU agreement, which covers health‑sector workers’ pay and conditions.
How did Ajaero respond to the TUC’s stance?
He questioned why the union would reject a proposal that had not been presented to it, stating, “I’m worried for some time now why you will say you reject something that was not given to you. That is not proper. You don’t have the power to reject what a sister agency negotiates. You have the power to ask for your own.”
The disagreement underscores a broader tension within Nigeria’s labour movement, where multiple unions vie for influence over government‑led remuneration packages. While the NLC has secured a N70,000 transport allowance, the TUC’s demand for a higher figure reflects ongoing concerns about cost‑of‑living pressures across the public sector.
Analysts note that the federal government’s fiscal capacity remains a point of contention, with the TUC citing a potential N300,000 monthly allowance as feasible. However, no official response from the government has been released at the time of writing.
The situation remains fluid, and both unions are expected to continue lobbying the authorities as the debate over transport subsidies and wage adjustments progresses.