The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has disagreed with his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, over the N70,000 transport allowance issue.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday, Ajaero maintained that the NLC has the authority to independently negotiate labour-related matters, citing the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) principle of representation by the majority of workers.
He described the NLC as Africa’s largest labour centre, stressing that the union has the strength and mandate to engage the Federal Government directly without having to wait for the TUC.
“We don’t need TUC. It can negotiate along with NLC; but NLC can negotiate alone based on the principle of most workers representatives of the ILO.
“TUC can’t negotiate alone; if they are saying and it is implied, it does not happen. I don’t think the Ministry of Labour or the Labour Authority will allow that to happen,” the NLC President noted.
This is coming after TUC President, Osifo said both labour centres must negotiate together to achieve better results for workers.
Ajaero’s statement has now exposed the deep division between NLC and TUC, with many Nigerian workers confused about who is really fighting for them.
Some workers have accused labour leaders of playing politics with their welfare while the government continues to delay the transport allowance.