Nigeria’s TUC rejects 70,000-naira transport allowance
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Aminiya
Nigeria’s Trade Union Congress rejects the 70,000-naira monthly allowance the federal government plans to pay workers for six months. Its leader, Festus Osifo, says the minimum wage could instead be raised to 300,000 naira, while the Nigeria Labour Congress defends the agreement reached with the government, Aminiya reports.
Nigeria’s TUC union has rejected the monthly transport allowance of 70,000 naira that the federal government plans to pay workers for six months. In a statement signed by its president, Festus Osifo, and secretary, Nuhu Toro, the TUC said the government could instead raise the minimum wage to 300,000 naira, Aminiya reported.
The agreement on the allowance was reached the previous week between the government and the NLC, another major Nigerian trade union federation. Its president, Joe Ajaero, told Channels that the NLC could negotiate with the state alone on labour issues. He argued that the TUC could not reach a separate agreement of this kind, and that the NLC had to be involved.
The TUC’s opposition comes after Nigerian unions backed the 70,000-naira allowance on 2 November. The disagreement between the two federations concerns both negotiations over the assistance and the demand for higher wages.
