The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over its rejection of the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers, describing the decision as improper.
Ajaero argued that the TUC had no justification for rejecting an agreement it was not involved in negotiating, insisting that the congress should approach the Federal Government with its own demands instead of opposing an arrangement reached by another labour organisation.
The disagreement follows the Federal Government’s announcement of a six-month transportation allowance for public servants across all levels, a measure intended to provide temporary relief amid rising transportation costs.
While the NLC welcomed the agreement reached with the government, the TUC dismissed the intervention as inadequate and called for a permanent salary increase instead.
The conflicting positions have exposed fresh disagreements between Nigeria’s two major labour centres over the best approach to addressing the financial difficulties facing workers.
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Ajaero Questions TUC’s Decision to Reject N70,000 Allowance
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, Ajaero expressed dissatisfaction with the TUC’s decision to reject the transportation allowance.
According to the NLC president, the TUC was not part of the negotiations that produced the agreement between the Federal Government and the NLC.
He maintained that an organisation that did not participate in the discussions should not attempt to dismiss the outcome of negotiations conducted by another labour body.
Ajaero suggested that the TUC could have pursued a separate arrangement with the government if it believed the proposed allowance was insufficient.
He explained that labour organisations were free to negotiate different demands based on their priorities, rather than oppose agreements they had not negotiated.
“The agreement was not signed by TUC. You don’t kick against something you did not negotiate or ask for,” he said.
His comments were directed at the TUC’s public rejection of the six-month allowance, which the congress described as an inadequate response to the rising cost of living.
TUC Rejects Six-Month Transport Allowance, Demands Salary Increase
The disagreement began after the TUC announced on Wednesday that it would not accept the Federal Government’s N70,000 transportation allowance for public sector workers.
The congress described temporary wage awards and short-term financial interventions as neither sustainable nor sufficiently far-reaching to address the economic challenges affecting Nigerian workers.
In a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, the TUC argued that the government should focus on increasing workers’ salaries instead of introducing a temporary allowance.
The organisation maintained that the rising cost of transportation and other essential expenses had significantly reduced workers’ purchasing power.
According to the TUC’s position, a six-month intervention would provide only temporary relief without addressing the underlying problem of inadequate wages.
The congress therefore urged the Federal Government to consider a more lasting solution through improved salaries and better conditions of service.
Its position reflects a broader demand by organised labour for measures that can provide lasting financial relief rather than temporary assistance.
How the Federal Government Arrived at the N70,000 Agreement
The Federal Government announced the N70,000 monthly transportation allowance on Tuesday following a conciliation meeting with NLC leaders in Abuja.
The agreement was documented in a memorandum of understanding reached after discussions between representatives of the government and the labour congress.
Under the arrangement, public sector workers across all levels are expected to receive the transportation allowance for six months.
The intervention is intended to help workers cope with increased transportation expenses, which have placed additional pressure on household finances.
The negotiations came amid continuing concerns over the rising cost of living and the financial difficulties experienced by employees across different sectors.
For the NLC, the agreement represented an opportunity to secure immediate assistance for workers while broader discussions about wages and welfare continued.
However, the TUC’s rejection has raised questions about whether the temporary allowance will receive wider acceptance across organised labour.
Ajaero Says He Would Have Preferred TUC to Demand More Money
Rather than reject the allowance outright, Ajaero suggested that the TUC could have negotiated for a higher amount.
He argued that competing labour organisations should seek better outcomes for workers through negotiations instead of dismissing agreements reached by their counterparts.
Explaining his position, he said he would have preferred the TUC to demand significantly more than the NLC’s proposed figure.
“I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one naira, TUC will be asking for 10 naira,” Ajaero said.
The statement reflected his argument that the TUC could have used its position to push the government for a more generous transportation allowance.
According to the NLC president, rejecting the agreement without participating in the negotiations was not the appropriate approach.
He maintained that the TUC had every right to seek better terms but should do so through direct engagement with the Federal Government.
NLC President Challenges TUC’s Argument for Higher Salaries
Ajaero also questioned the TUC’s position that the government should prioritise salary increases over temporary transportation assistance.
He argued that higher wages could not simply be granted without an established process involving negotiations and the necessary procedures.
According to him, salary adjustments require engagement between the relevant parties rather than an assumption that the government can independently increase workers’ earnings.
“TUC never asked for intervention as a result of the rising cost of transportation. On the issue of asking for wage increase, does the government gift wage increase? There must be a process put in place,” he said.
His comments suggest that the NLC views the transportation allowance as a practical intervention that can provide immediate support while more comprehensive wage discussions take place.
The NLC president also questioned why the TUC was opposing an agreement designed to address transportation costs when, according to him, the congress had not previously requested such an intervention.
He reiterated that the TUC remained free to negotiate its own demands with the government.
NLC and TUC Disagreement Highlights Wider Labour Challenges
The latest disagreement comes against the backdrop of longstanding demands by organised labour for better wages and improved working conditions in Nigeria.
Both the NLC and TUC have repeatedly called for increases in the national minimum wage, arguing that workers need stronger financial protection against rising living costs.
However, their different reactions to the transportation allowance reveal contrasting views on how best to secure immediate and long-term improvements in workers’ welfare.
While the NLC has defended the negotiated six-month intervention, the TUC believes a temporary allowance does not adequately address the broader problem of insufficient salaries.
The disagreement also raises questions about coordination between the country’s major labour organisations, particularly when negotiating with the Federal Government on issues affecting workers across the public sector.
For workers, the central concern remains whether government interventions will provide meaningful relief from increasing transportation expenses, food prices and other essential costs.
What Happens Next Over the N70,000 Transport Allowance?
Ajaero has maintained that the TUC should negotiate directly with the Federal Government if it wants a higher transportation allowance or a separate salary arrangement.
He has also insisted that the congress should not reject an agreement reached without its participation.
The TUC, meanwhile, has made its position clear by calling for increased salaries instead of temporary financial awards.
The disagreement leaves both labour organisations with different approaches to addressing the economic pressures confronting Nigerian workers.
Ultimately, the debate goes beyond the N70,000 allowance. It reflects a wider question about whether temporary financial interventions or permanent wage improvements offer a more effective response to the rising cost of living.
As discussions over workers’ welfare continue, the Federal Government’s ability to engage organised labour and deliver sustainable solutions will remain central to the outcome.
