NLC claims sole labour negotiating power, disputes TUC's independent role
NLC President Joe Ajaero told Channels TV's The Morning Brief this Monday that the Nigeria Labour Congress holds exclusive power to negotiate on workers' behalf under ILO's "most representative" principle. The Trade Union Congress can only negotiate alongside NLC—not independently. This escalates a dispute over the ₦70,000 transport intervention the Federal Government approved for all workers for six months.
Ajaero stated TUC submitted proposals alone to an ILO conference but they were returned; NLC must forward TUC's list. He argued the Ministry of Labour won't engage TUC acting alone. Citing the 2005 Trade Union Amendment Act and Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, Ajaero noted only one TUC affiliate belongs to the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council—seven are NLC affiliates.
On the ₦70,000 intervention, Ajaero said NLC issued an ultimatum, secured a four-day meeting with government, and the allowance emerged from those talks. He added minimum wage demands can't proceed until a negotiation committee is formed with wider consultation among labour leaders, government, and employers.
The power struggle determines which body speaks for Nigerian workers in policy talks. With TUC President Festus Osifo claiming 300,000 federal civil service members, the structural question remains: does numerical strength or ILO recognition define negotiating authority?
Will the government recognize NLC's claimed monopoly, or will dual representation persist in practice?