The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has countered the Trade Union Congress, TUC, President, Festus Usifo, over N70,000 transport allowance.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Monday, Ajaero argued that the NLC has the power to negotiate alone on labour matters based on the principle of most workers’ representatives of the International Labour Organization, ILO.
According to him, NLC is the biggest labour centre in Africa and has the capacity to negotiate directly with the Federal Government without waiting for TUC.
“We don’t need TUC. It can negotiate along with NLC; but NLC can negotiate alone based on the principle of most workers representatives of the ILO.
“TUC can’t negotiate alone; if they are saying and it is implied, it does not happen. I don’t think the Ministry of Labour or the Labour Authority will allow that to happen,” the NLC President noted.
This is coming after TUC President, Usifo said both labour centres must negotiate together to achieve better results for workers.
Ajaero’s statement has now exposed the deep division between NLC and TUC, with many Nigerian workers confused about who is really fighting for them.
Some workers have accused labour leaders of playing politics with their welfare while the government continues to delay the transport allowance.