A major rift has erupted between Nigeria’s primary organized labour centers following explosive allegations by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, who publicly questioned the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the handling and whereabouts of 90 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and operational funding provided by the Federal Government.
The confrontation broke out during discussions over recent government negotiations, including the ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance agreement.
Defending the NLC’s independent bargaining position, Ajaero challenged TUC leadership to account for its portion of a combined 180 CNG buses allocated to both unions by the Federal Government. Ajaero stated that the Federal Government handed over 90 buses to the NLC and another 90 to the TUC, alongside three months of operational funding attached to the fleet to ensure a smooth kickoff.
Highlighting the NLC’s handling of the intervention in lastest appearance on a national TV program, Ajaero noted, “While the NLC moved around the geopolitical zones and commissioned its 90 buses across the country to ease transportation in line with the intent of the intervention, the whereabouts of the TUC’s 90 buses remain unknown.”
He added that if the entire fleet of 180 buses were fully deployed and put into active operational use, Nigerian workers and the public at large would have visibly felt the relief and experienced a significant easing of their daily transportation burden.
Ajaero further directed sharp criticism at TUC President Festus Osifo, accusing him of running the union as an “absentee president” from the United States and only flying into Nigeria for selective meetings before returning abroad. Osifo pushed back against the charges, characterizing Ajaero’s remarks as baseless and asserting that the NLC cannot negotiate allowances or terms on behalf of TUC members.
The public spat has drawn sharp criticism across Nigeria, with citizens, civil society organizations, and online commentators expressing outrage over the apparent division and lack of transparency within organized labour leadership.
A growing section of the public expressed anger at the NLC and trade unions, accusing them of sabotage by withholding or mishandling public transport relief assets while ordinary citizens suffer, only to turn around and unnecessarily blame President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the economic hardship.
Critics argue that organized labour must account for every vehicle and grant received, sparking widespread calls for an immediate independent audit into the distribution and management of all federally donated CNG buses and operational funds.
 President Joe Ajaero){kind=link}