Former leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have intervened in the disagreement between the two labour centres over the Federal Government’s ₦70,000 transport allowance, securing a commitment from their presidents to suspend public exchanges and resolve the dispute through dialogue.
The intervention followed days of exchanges between NLC President Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, over the six-month transport support approved by the Federal Government for public service workers.
The disagreement, which escalated into personal accusations during separate television interviews, raised concerns about the unity of organised labour and its ability to maintain a common position on workers’ welfare.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, former NLC President Ayuba Wabba said labour veterans had contacted both presidents and secured their agreement to stop further hostilities pending a formal meeting.
Wabba spoke on the sidelines of the 52nd National Executive Council session of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.
Describing the disagreement as a family misunderstanding, he said the two organisations shared common objectives and should resolve their differences internally.
“It’s a family misunderstanding between the two centres, and we have made it clear that workers’ organisations are supposed to be one because the objective is one and the aim is one,” Wabba said.
He disclosed that the veterans involved in the intervention included former TUC President Peter Esele and former NLC presidents Bobboi Kaigama, Hassan Sunmonu, Abdulwaheed Omar and himself.
According to him, the former leaders had communicated among themselves before reaching out to Ajaero and Osifo, who accepted the need for reconciliation.
Wabba said the intervention was intended not only to end the immediate disagreement but also to prevent similar confrontations from affecting the labour movement in the future.
He added that representatives of both labour centres had participated in the interaction, which ended with an embrace and an understanding that the matter should be resolved through dialogue.
The former NLC president disclosed that some of the principal actors were away, expressing optimism that a formal meeting would take place when they returned.
He also urged journalists to avoid amplifying the disagreement, arguing that public exchanges would not resolve the underlying issues.
How the N70,000 allowance triggered the dispute
The disagreement followed the Federal Government’s approval of a monthly ₦70,000 transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026.
The agreement was reached on October 27 during a conciliation meeting between government representatives and the NLC leadership in Abuja.
However, the TUC rejected the arrangement, arguing that a temporary transport allowance would not adequately address workers’ economic difficulties and calling for improved salaries instead.
Osifo subsequently questioned the NLC’s authority to negotiate an agreement affecting TUC members without the organisation’s participation.
He maintained that both labour centres should be involved in negotiations concerning workers represented by their respective affiliates.
Ajaero, however, defended the NLC’s position, arguing that his organisation could negotiate independently based on its representation of the majority of organised workers.
The disagreement also exposed differences between the two presidents over the interpretation of International Labour Organisation principles and the role of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.
Ajaero insists allowance is secured
Despite the disagreement, Ajaero maintained that the ₦70,000 transport intervention had been secured for workers through negotiations with the Federal Government.
He also said the allowance would be considered when discussions on a new minimum wage commenced.
The government agreement additionally provides for payment of outstanding peculiar allowances dating from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
It also provides for the settlement of 19 months of outstanding allowances for health workers within three months from December 2026.
Wabba said the veterans would continue working towards a formal reconciliation meeting, stressing that dialogue remained central to resolving disagreements within the labour movement.
He expressed confidence that the two organisations could overcome the misunderstanding and preserve their relationship in the interest of Nigerian workers.
