President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for rejecting the Federal Government’s N70,000 transport allowance for public sector workers, describing the decision as “improper”.
Ajaero made the remarks during an interview on Thursday, saying the TUC did not participate in negotiations with the Federal Government that led to the agreement on the allowance.
The TUC had on Wednesday rejected the six-month transportation allowance for public service workers across all levels, describing temporary wage awards as neither sustainable nor far-reaching. The congress, in a statement signed by its president, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, urged the Federal Government to increase workers’ salaries instead.
The Federal Government announced the N70,000 monthly transport allowance on Tuesday in a memorandum of understanding reached after a conciliation meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders in Abuja.
Reacting to the TUC’s position, Ajaero said the congress should negotiate its own terms with the Federal Government rather than reject an agreement reached by the NLC.
He argued that the TUC lacked the authority to reject the terms negotiated by a sister labour organisation, adding that it could instead seek a separate agreement with the government.
“The agreement was not signed by TUC. You don’t kick against something you did not negotiate or ask for,” Ajaero said.
He added that he would have preferred a situation in which the TUC negotiated for a higher allowance than the amount proposed by the NLC.
“I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one naira, TUC will be asking for 10 naira,” he said.
Ajaero also questioned the TUC’s rejection of the allowance, arguing that the congress had not requested government intervention over rising transportation costs.
On the demand for salary increases, the NLC president said the government could not simply grant higher wages without following the appropriate procedures.
“TUC never asked for intervention as a result of the rising cost of transportation. On the issue of asking for wage increase, does the government gift wage increase? There must be a process put in place,” he said.
Ajaero maintained that the TUC had the right to negotiate its own demands but should not reject an agreement it was not part of.
The NLC and TUC have repeatedly called for an increase in the minimum wage as part of their demands for improved workers’ welfare.
Boluwatife Enome
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