The public feud between Nigeria’s primary labour centres escalated sharply as Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero branded Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo an “absentee leader” operating remotely from the United States.
Speaking during a television broadcast, Ajaero dismissed the TUC’s rejection of the recently negotiated ₦70,000 monthly Federal Government transport allowance, asserting that Osifo does not permanently reside in Nigeria and only flies into the country for brief official meetings.
Ajaero further questioned Osifo’s physical participation in statutory duties like the National Pension Commission (PenCom) board and raised inquiries regarding the distribution of government-allocated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transport palliatives.
Hitting back at the claims, TUC President Festus Osifo firmly rejected Ajaero’s assertion that the NLC has the sole mandate to negotiate on behalf of all organized labour. Osifo challenged Ajaero to produce any International Labour Organisation (ILO) framework granting one labour centre the authority to unilaterally bind another independent union.
Osifo explained that the TUC rejected the ₦70,000 transport relief package because temporary palliatives fail to resolve deep-seated economic pressures, insisting instead on permanent salary adjustments.
Furthermore, Osifo accused Ajaero of utilizing flawed bargaining strategies—claiming that past wage discussions managed by the NLC leader applied a flat ₦40,000 across the board through the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JNC) rather than proper structured percentage increases, which left federal civil servants with poor wages.
Osifo also dismissed the travel allegations, clarifying that his overseas trips were strictly for professional executive leadership development rather than permanent residency.
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