N70,000 transport allowance saga: PENGASSAN begs Ajaero, Osifo to sheathe swords, unite Labour

Says rift not good for collective interests of workers By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Omotola Aremo The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has called on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, to sheathe their swords and urgently resolve the differences between the two major labour centres in the interest of Nigerian workers. The appeal comes amid the lingering controversy between the NLC and TUC over the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance, which the TUC leadership rejected.

The disagreement has exposed differences between the two labour central organisations over the handling of the allowance, raising concerns about the ability of organised labour to sustain a common front in its engagements with the Federal Government. Agoro warned that the divisions could weaken labour’s collective bargaining power and undermine its responsibility to defend workers’ interests. The PENGASSAN President, who made the appeal at the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) conference in Lagos, urged both leaders to prioritise dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation, insisting that the interests of Nigerian workers must take precedence over institutional disagreements. Speaking in his personal capacity, while also representing Osifo at the event, Agoro challenged the two labour leaders to practise the unity they had encouraged other labour organisations to embrace, stressing that the time had come for them to resolve their differences and present a common front in engagements with the government. He said: “I listened carefully to Comrade Joe Ajaero, and I want him and his twin brother to do the same thing that…