Ajaero Defends N70,000 Transport Allowance Deal, Rebukes TUC Opposition

The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have clashed over the federal government's proposed N70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers. Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, defended the deal on Thursday during a television interview, stating that the TUC had no grounds to reject an agreement it neither participated in nor signed.

Ajaero emphasized that the NLC had publicly signalled from the start that it would conduct independent negotiations with the government, separate from the TUC. He argued that because the TUC was not party to those discussions, the rival labour body's subsequent opposition to the outcome was unfounded.

The NLC boss noted that the TUC had withdrawn from the negotiation process before the agreement was reached. The TUC, by contrast, rejected the allowance package as insufficient and inadequate.

The congress described the arrangement as a temporary measure that fails to address workers' long-term needs and called instead for an immediate, permanent salary increase for workers. Government officials had approved the six-month allowance beginning in November to help workers cope with elevated living costs following the removal of fuel subsidies.

According to available reports, a former political leader also weighed in on the matter, characterizing the allowance as a reactive move designed to manage public discontent. The disagreement between Nigeria's two main labour federations underscores a broader tension over how best to support workers amid ongoing economic pressures in the country.