The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for rejecting the N70,000 monthly transport allowance approved for public workers by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Ajaero said the TUC had not negotiated with the Federal Government for an intervention to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.

He explained that while the NLC was pushing for government support for workers amid worsening economic conditions, the TUC had remained on the sidelines.

Ajaero argued that the TUC could not reasonably oppose the intervention when, according to him, the NLC had pursued the negotiations independently.

“You don’t kick against something you did not ask for or negotiate for. And you have asked for anything all these years, suddenly something was given to NLC and you now say you are kicking against it. TUC never asked for intervention as a result of rising cost of living,” he said.

He added, “Why is TUC challenging what was gotten for the workers when we stated clearly that NLC was acting alone?”

The disagreement follows the TUC’s rejection of the N70,000 monthly transport allowance, with the union demanding a minimum monthly salary of N300,000 instead.

The Federal Government had approved the transport allowance amid rising fuel prices and renewed calls for a review of workers’ minimum wage.