The institutional battle between Nigeria’s primary labor centers has intensified into an open war of words, with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero hitting back at Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo over claims that the NLC cannot negotiate workers’ welfare alone.
Dismissing Osifo’s stance as a fundamental misunderstanding of statutory labor law and international conventions, Ajaero declared that while the TUC can only negotiate jointly alongside the NLC, the NLC possesses the exclusive authority to negotiate independently with government authorities.
Ajaero invoked provisions of the Trade Union Amendment Act of 2005, the 1999 Constitution, and established International Labour Organization (ILO) standards to defend the NLC’s dominance. He revealed that global labor institutions only recognize the NLC as the primary national labor center for official submissions, pointing to instances where independent delegates’ lists submitted by the TUC were rejected and redirected.
”TUC sent their negotiation list alone ahead of the ILO conference, but it was returned, and I had to minute on it,” Ajaero disclosed. “They have to send their list here for me to forward it—that is the position of the ILO. NLC determines how TUC participates.”
Addressing the dispute surrounding the recent ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance negotiated with the Federal Government, Ajaero rejected Osifo’s accusation of monopoly. He asserted that the Ministry of Labour and Federal Authorities primarily deal with the central labor federation holding primary legal representation, adding that the TUC cannot bypass established labor hierarchy when national agreements are concluded.
The sharp exchange marks a severe breakdown in the joint labor front that previously presented a united stance during national minimum wage talks, threatening future collective bargaining processes with the government.
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