NLC has authority to negotiate alone, Ajaero tells TUC

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, stated that the union has full authority to negotiate labour matters alone, countering claims by his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, that both bodies must participate jointly.

The clarification comes amid a disagreement between the two labour leaders over the recent N70,000 transport allowance approved by the Federal Government for a period of six months.

Ajaero clarified that while the TUC can participate alongside the NLC, it lacks the independent authority to negotiate with the government.

The NLC President maintained that the Trade Union Congress cannot independently negotiate with labour authorities based on ILO principles.

“TUC can negotiate along with NLC but NLC can negotiate alone based on the principle of most workers representatives of the ILO. They have to send their list here for me to forward it; that is the position of the ILO”, Ajaero.

Ajaero, while addressing Osifo’s claim regarding the TUC’s membership strength within the federal civil service, made reference to the 2005 Trade Union Amendment Act and Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, that the NLC holds the clear majority in the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.

He revealed that of the eight union bodies comprising the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, seven are affiliated with the NLC, with only one belonging to the TUC.

The NLC president also explained the process that led to the N70,000 transport allowance agreement, confirming that the NLC had initially issued a strike ultimatum.

According to Ajaero, the Federal Government requested a four-day window to meet with the union, leading to a resumption of negotiations and the subsequent approval of the allowance.