‘Absentee leader who resides in the US’ | ‘Disaster to NLC’ — Ajaero, Osifo clash over N70k allowance

The feud between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the N70,000 monthly transport allowance to public sector workers has deepened.

Recently, Joe Ajaero, NLC president; and Festus Osifo, TUC president; have been at loggerheads over the proposed palliative from the federal government.

During an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ajaero and Osifo renewed hostilities.

BACK STORY

Last Tuesday, the federal government announced the allowance in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) issued after a meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders in Abuja.

Twenty-four hours later, the TUC rejected the six-month transport allowance for public sector workers, calling for an increase in salaries instead.

In a riposte, Ajaero said the TUC should have negotiated its own terms with the federal government rather than reject the outcome of the NLC’s negotiations.

Osifo, however, said discussions on the allowance began before Ajaero’s meeting with the federal government, adding that the government had engaged the TUC over its position on workers’ welfare.

‘ABSENTEE PRESIDENT WHO LIVES IN US’

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Ajaero countered the TUC president.

The NLC president said the transport allowance was a product of NLC negotiation with the federal government after the union issued an ultimatum.

Ajaero said after the ultimatum, the federal government called for a meeting that led to a series of agreements, in which the transport allowance was included.

“When he (Festus) said I did not negotiate N70,000 transport allowance, I did not know what he meant,” Ajaero said.

“We (NLC) gave the government an ultimatum and the government asked for four days to meet with us. At the resumed sitting after four days, some agreements were reached.

“After every collective bargaining, the product is the agreement. It was in that agreement that the issue of N70,000 was reached.”

Speaking further, the NLC president said Osifo should be asked about the whereabouts of the 90 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses donated to the TUC by the federal government.

Ajaero described Osifo as an “absentee president”, while alleging that the TUC leader resides abroad and shuttles between Nigeria and the United States for meetings.

“He is an absentee president of the TUC. He does not live in Nigeria. He comes in from the US to attend meetings and rush back. He serves in the board of PENCOM,” Ajaero said.

“You cannot be living abroad and be holding a position in a central level organisation. I challenge him and the Nigeria Immigration Service to prove if he has been in this country for four to five months this year.”

After Ajaero completed his interview session during the programme, Osifo appeared for his right of reply.

‘A DISASTER TO THE LABOUR MOVEMENT’

Speaking during the interview, Osifo said he “really pities” the labour movement after listening to the NLC president, adding that the union once had great leaders.

“I can boldly say that Joe Ajaero is a disaster to the trade union movement in Nigeria,” Osifo said.

Osifo added that the NLC cannot negotiate on behalf of members of the TUC, since the trade union has a recognised body.

Commenting on the claim that he does not live in Nigeria, the TUC president said it is a shame that the NLC president made that comment.

Osifo said before handing over as president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in August, he was shuttling from one shop floor to another to negotiate salary increment for members.

The TUC president said he is currently in the United Kingdom for training on advanced leadership and management.

Osifo claimed that workers are being shortchanged because of Ajaero’s lack of negotiation skills.

“Ajaero has never led any union in Nigeria that is why he does not understand the principles of negotiation,” Osifo added.

“What I will recommend for him is training and retraining.”