The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, of living in the United States while serving as the union’s president.
Ajaero made the allegation during an interview with Channels Television amid disagreements between the two labour organisations over the recently approved N70,000 transport allowance for workers.
He described Osifo as an absentee president and questioned his involvement in labour matters in Nigeria.
“He’s 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.
However, the disagreement between the labour leaders extends beyond Osifo’s alleged residence.
It centres on the negotiations that preceded President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s approval of the N70,000 transport allowance. Ajaero had earlier criticised the TUC, insisting that the organisation did not participate in the negotiations that produced the allowance.
He also maintained that the NLC could not speak for the TUC on the agreement.
In a separate interview with Channels Television, Osifo responded to Ajaero’s comments.
He said the NLC president lacked the authority to negotiate on behalf of the TUC.
The disagreement comes amid concerns over rising fuel prices and growing demands from organised labour for improved wages and better welfare for Nigerian workers.
The N70,000 transport allowance forms part of the government’s response to workers’ concerns about the rising cost of transportation and the pressure on household incomes.
The exchanges between Ajaero and Osifo have exposed differences between Nigeria’s two major labour centres over representation and negotiations with the Federal Government.
