The presidents of Nigeria's two main labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, have disagreed over who has the authority to negotiate workers' salaries and allowances. The disagreement comes after the Federal Government approved a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers across all levels for six months. Osifo accused the NLC of sidelining the TUC in negotiations with the Federal Government.
Osifo argued that the TUC, which represents a significant number of workers, particularly in the federal civil service, should have been involved in the negotiations. He challenged Ajaero to produce any International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulation authorising one labour centre to negotiate on behalf of another without its participation or consultation. Osifo expressed disappointment with what he described as the NLC's disregard for established labour traditions.
Ajaero maintained that the NLC had the authority to negotiate independently based on the principle of majority representation recognised by the ILO. He dismissed Osifo's position, insisting that the NLC could negotiate alone while the TUC could only participate alongside it. Ajaero cited the ILO framework, which gives the NLC a leading role in labour negotiations due to its larger membership.
The TUC president disputed Ajaero's interpretation of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), arguing that the meeting at which the N70,000 allowance was agreed upon did not constitute a properly convened meeting of the council. Osifo claimed that the meeting did not satisfy the council's constitutional requirements, including the composition and quorum needed for valid deliberations.
Osifo further criticised the application of the consequential adjustment arising from the increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, arguing that the NLC had mishandled the process. He said the increase represented approximately 33 per cent in the overall wage adjustment and should have been subjected to proper negotiations through the joint negotiating council.
Ajaero countered that the Ministry of Labour and other relevant authorities would not independently engage the TUC in negotiations on workers' welfare. He also dismissed Osifo's argument about the TUC's representation in the federal public service, citing the composition of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council. According to Ajaero, only one of the eight union bodies represented in the joint council is affiliated with the TUC.
The disagreement between the two labour leaders has raised questions about the representation of Nigerian workers and the negotiation of their welfare packages. The N70,000 transport allowance was approved by the Federal Government for six months, but the labour centres' disagreement may impact future negotiations. The ILO framework and Nigerian labour laws will likely play a crucial role in resolving the dispute.
Key points
- The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have clashed over who has the authority to negotiate workers' salaries and allowances.
- The disagreement arose after the Federal Government approved a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers across all levels for six months.
- The ILO framework and Nigerian labour laws will likely play a crucial role in resolving the dispute.
