NLC, TUC at loggerheads over government’s ₦70,000 transport intervention, minimum wage review

*Comrade Joe Ajaero, National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), condemns the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC)for its rejection of the Federal Government’s ₦70,000 transport intervention for workers across all levels for six months

*Festus Osifo insists the leadership of the NLC cannot negotiate on behalf of Organised Labour in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over its rejection of on the Federal Government’s ₦70,000 transport intervention for workers across all levels for six months.

ConsumerConnect reports Comrade Joe Ajaero, National President of NLC,  made the remark Thursday, October 29, 2026, while featuring in a Channels TV programme monitored in Lagos.

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The President of NLC revealed how the TUC leadership opted out of the negotiation process with the government, resulting in the N70,000 transport intervention

He averred that the Union, therefore, has no right to reject what it never advocated in the first place.

Ajero explained: “The agreement was not signed by the Trade Union Congress; you don’t kick against something you did not negotiate or never asked for.”

The Labour leader also said he would have preferred a situation where TUC was negotiating for a higher intervention than what the NLC was asking, and the government would have harmonised both requests.

Ajaero as well alleged that the Mr. Festus Osifo, President of TUC, said the National Minimum Wage would be due for negotiation August 2027.

The NLC President, however, maintained the Nigerian Labour rejected that claim, citing such a move is not in line with the position of the extant law.

He stated: “They (TUC) threatened us and said they are not part of it.”

The NLC is completely on its own with the N70, 000 transport intervention, declared Ajaero.

He expressed surprised at TUC’s stand on what was secured for the workers of the Labour Union.

In regard to workers’ welfare under the Trade Union, Ajero said: “He left them, and never came out to say they needed one or two Naira, and now that we are done with this negotiation, he is still free to agitate for one million Naira but not to reject what we have got.”

Ajaero: TUC lacks power to reject NLC’s negotiation with government

Comrade Ajaero emphasised that the TUC has no power to reject the intervention secured by the sister union.

He explained that the Union should rather advocate a higher amount in the face of increased hardship arising from increment in energy prices across Nigeria.

The Labour leader further argued that getting a ₦70,000 additional pay for transport, which also doubles as the current National Minimum Wage, just a few months before the negotiation of the minimum wage, which is scheduled to take place in April 2027, makes the ₦70,000 transport intervention a major landmark achievement.

Ajaero said the “breakthrough” came after several years of push by Labour, using instruments, such as the threat of strikes.‎

Osifo: NLC has no right to negotiate on behalf of Organised Labour

Meanwhile, in his response to Ajaero’s submission on the latest negotiation with the Federal Government, Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress, said the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress could not negotiate on behalf of Organised Labour in the country.

The TUC President said his counterpart could only speak for the NLC.

Osifo, who stated this Friday, October 30 while speaking on a Channels TV programme also, said the TUC was seeking a salary increase rather than a temporary allowance.

He further insisted that the TUC position on the matter should be distinguished from that of the NLC in discussions with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare in Nigeria.