Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) President Festus Osifo disagree over whether the NLC can negotiate workers’ pay without the TUC.
In separate appearances on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Ajaero defended the NLC’s authority to negotiate alone, while Osifo said his organisation could not be represented without consultation.
The dispute concerns the N70,000 monthly transport intervention agreed with the federal government on 27 October. The NLC’s published resolutions provide for six months of payments from November and urge state and local governments to participate.
Ajaero based his position on what he described as the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) principle of the most representative workers’ organisation. He said seven of the eight unions on the joint public-service negotiating council belonged to the NLC.
Osifo acknowledged that the NLC had more affiliates but disputed that this gave it authority to negotiate for the TUC. He challenged Ajaero to produce an ILO rule supporting that interpretation.
The TUC had rejected the temporary allowance and sought a salary increase last week.
The government and NLC are due to review implementation after one month, according to the published resolutions.
Sources: NLC resolutions; Channels Television; Punch
Go to the source
www.nlcng.orgSomething we should clarify?
Contact the newsroom
