N70,000 Allowance: Ajaero Calls Osifo ‘Absentee President’
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the commitment of his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, to labour leadership, describing him as an absentee president amid the dispute over the Federal Government’s N70,000 transport allowance for workers.
Ajaero made the remarks on Monday, November 2, during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he defended the NLC’s negotiations with the Federal Government.
According to the NLC president, Osifo does not reside in Nigeria but travels from the United States to attend union meetings before returning abroad.
“He is an absentee president of the TUC; he doesn’t live in Nigeria. He comes in from the United States to attend meetings and rush back,” Ajaero said.
He also challenged Osifo and the Nigerian Immigration Service to establish how long the TUC president had stayed in Nigeria this year.
Ajaero argued that someone living abroad should not occupy a central leadership position in a Nigerian labour organisation.
NLC, TUC Disagree Over N70,000 Allowance
The exchange comes amid growing disagreements between the NLC and TUC over the Federal Government’s approval of a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers for six months.
The Federal Government reached the agreement following discussions with NLC representatives after the labour union issued an ultimatum over workers’ welfare.
Ajaero maintained that the allowance resulted from negotiations between the NLC and the government, arguing that his organisation had the authority to negotiate independently.
However, Osifo rejected the arrangement, insisting that the NLC could not negotiate on behalf of TUC members without consulting or involving the congress.
The TUC president described the agreement as an aberration, arguing that both labour centres should participate in negotiations affecting their respective members.
Osifo Fires Back at Ajaero
Responding to Ajaero during the same television programme, Osifo criticised the NLC president’s leadership and negotiation approach.
He described Ajaero as a disaster to the trade union movement and questioned his understanding of collective bargaining.
Osifo also dismissed the allegation that he was absent from Nigeria, explaining that before leaving his position as president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in August, he had been actively involved in negotiating salary improvements for workers.
He disclosed that he was in the United Kingdom for advanced leadership and management training.
The TUC president maintained that the NLC could not negotiate for another labour organisation without its participation, stressing that both congresses had separate mandates and affiliated unions.
The disagreement has exposed growing divisions within Nigeria’s organised labour movement, raising questions about the ability of the two major labour centres to present a united position on workers’ welfare.
With the dispute continuing, attention remains on how the Federal Government will implement the transport allowance and whether both labour organisations can resolve their differences over workers’ representation.
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