That Is Not Proper’, NLC knocks TUC over N70,000 allowance

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for rejecting the Federal Government’s N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers.

Ajaero described the TUC’s decision as improper, saying the union should negotiate its own agreement with the government instead of rejecting an arrangement it was not part of.

Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, Ajaero said the TUC did not participate in the negotiations that led to the agreement between the government and the NLC.

“The TUC did not sign the agreement. You don’t oppose something you did not negotiate or ask for,” he said.

The TUC had rejected the six-month transport allowance on Wednesday, describing it as unsustainable and insufficient to address workers’ needs. It called on the government to increase workers’ salaries instead.

Ajaero said he would have preferred both labour unions to demand better benefits for workers, noting that the government might have agreed to improved terms if both unions had made stronger demands.

He also said the TUC had not asked the government for assistance over the rising cost of transportation.

According to him, any demand for a salary increase must follow a formal negotiation process rather than expecting the government to grant it without proper arrangements.

Ajaero added that the NLC had urged the government to begin work on a committee to review workers’ salaries.

He expressed surprise that the TUC rejected the allowance despite not participating in the negotiations.

“You don’t have the power to reject what a sister union negotiates. You have the power to ask for your own,” he said.