NLC can negotiate ₦70k transport allowance alone without TUC, says Ajaero
NLC President Joe Ajaero declared on Channels TV's 'The Morning Brief' this Monday that the congress can negotiate the ₦70,000 transport allowance directly with the Federal Government without TUC involvement. Citing the ILO principle of "most workers' representatives," Ajaero argued NLC's status as Africa's largest labour centre gives it sole negotiating authority. "We don't need TUC," he stated, adding that the Ministry of Labour wouldn't recognise TUC negotiating alone anyway.
This follows TUC President Festus Osifo's position that both centres must negotiate together for better worker outcomes. Ajaero dismissed Osifo as an "absentee President of TUC," exposing a fracture that leaves millions of Nigerian workers uncertain about who actually represents their interests. Meanwhile, the government continues delaying the transport allowance implementation.
The ILO principle Ajaero references recognises the most representative workers' organisation as the primary bargaining agent—but Nigerian labour law requires both NLC and TUC participation in tripartite negotiations. This legal ambiguity fuels the standoff. Workers caught in the middle face continued erosion of purchasing power while leaders trade media barbs.
With inflation at multi-decade highs, the ₦70,000 allowance—announced months ago—remains unimplemented. The longer this leadership war persists, the less leverage either centre holds with a government content to wait out the division.
Should workers demand unified action from both centres, or does NLC's size legitimise solo negotiation as Ajaero claims?