Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for rejecting the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public servants, insisting that the union was not part of the negotiations that produced the agreement.
Ajaero made his position known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he questioned why the TUC was opposing an arrangement it had not negotiated with the government.
The disagreement followed the Federal Government’s approval of a monthly transport allowance of ₦70,000 for public service workers for six months, beginning in November 2026. The agreement was reached during a conciliation meeting between government representatives and the NLC in Abuja.
According to Ajaero, the NLC conducted the negotiations independently after disagreements emerged between the two major labour centres over the timing of the next minimum wage review.
He explained that the TUC had previously distanced itself from the discussions, prompting the NLC to clarify publicly that it was acting alone.
“Why is TUC challenging what was gotten for the workers when we stated clearly that NLC was acting alone?” Ajaero asked.
He argued that rather than rejecting the proposed allowance, the TUC could have demanded a higher amount to strengthen the negotiations and potentially secure greater benefits for workers.
However, the TUC has maintained that the temporary allowance is insufficient to address the financial difficulties confronting Nigerian workers.
The congress, led by Festus Osifo, rejected the proposal, arguing that temporary payments do not provide sustainable relief from rising living costs. It instead called for an immediate salary increase and the implementation of outstanding agreements affecting workers, including those in the health sector.
The TUC also raised concerns about previous wage-related commitments that it said had not been fully honoured, questioning whether another temporary payment would adequately protect workers.
The disagreement highlights growing divisions within organised labour over the best approach to securing improved wages and financial relief for Nigerian employees.
While the NLC has defended the negotiated transport allowance as an outcome of its engagement with the government, the TUC insists that a more sustainable salary adjustment is necessary to address the pressure on workers’ incomes.
With the allowance expected to begin in November, attention will be on its implementation and whether further discussions between the government and labour organisations will produce additional measures to improve workers’ welfare.
#JoeAjaero #NLC #TUC #FestusOsifo #Tinubu #TransportAllowance #NigerianWorkers #LabourNews #NigeriaNews #OnPointGistNews24
