The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, says his Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) counterpart, Joe Ajaero, cannot negotiate on behalf of organised labour, insisting that he can only speak for NLC members.
Osifo disclosed this in a televised interview, following the disagreement between the two labour leaders over the Federal Government’s proposed ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers for six months.
Ajaero had criticised Osifo for rejecting the offer, arguing that the TUC had no right to turn it down.
However, Osifo maintained that the TUC had its own position on the offer and that Ajaero could not negotiate on behalf of its members.
Osifo explained that the TUC’s rejection of the allowance was not based on any document signed by Ajaero, saying the congress had communicated its position to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before the NLC president’s meeting with the Federal Ministry of Labour.
The TUC president said the congress had proposed a ₦300,000 salary increase but was offered the ₦70,000 transport allowance for six months instead.
He said the TUC had rejected the allowance before Ajaero met with the Federal Ministry of Labour and announced the offer.
