N70,000 Transport Allowance Saga: ‘You can’t lead TUC from abroad,’ Ajaero tells Osifo

*’Ajaero doesn’t understand Labour negotiations,’ Osifo retorts By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Kafayat Kokumo The rift between the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has deepened following fresh accusations by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, that his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, is undermining the collective struggle of Nigerian workers. Read Also: 2027: Obi couldn’t fix Anambra; Atiku will return to Dubai after election — Oshiomhole Ajaero made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Channels TV’s ‘The Morning Brief’. He defended the NLC’s handling of the controversial N70, 000 transport allowance secured from the Federal Government, insisting that the agreement was the product of collective bargaining and not a unilateral arrangement by the NLC.

He also dismissed allegations that he was not a team player, declaring that the disagreements between the two labour centres should be examined based on facts rather than personal sentiments. The NLC President further questioned the TUC leadership’s commitment to workers’ interests, challenging its president over his alleged absence from Nigeria and the whereabouts of buses allocated to the organisation under the government’s compressed natural gas, CNG, transportation initiative. Usifo reacts In a swift reaction, President of TUC, Festus Osifo, disagreed with the stance of Joe Ajaero, maintaining, among others, that the NLC cannot negotiate the salaries and allowances of TUC members in the public service. However, speaking on the controversy surrounding the N70,000 transport allowance, Ajaero insisted that the agreement was negotiated with the Federal Government following an ultimatum issued by organised labour over the rising cost of living. He said the meeting that produced the…