The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress Joe Ajaero has questioned the Trade Union Congress rejection of the Federal Government proposed N70000 transport allowance, saying the union was not part of the deal.

Ajaero said the NLC had made it clear from the beginning that it was negotiating independently of the TUC, making the latter opposition to the outcome surprising.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television Morning Brief on Thursday, Ajaero said the agreement was not signed by TUC and the union should not oppose an arrangement it did not negotiate.

He said why is TUC challenging what was gotten for the workers when we stated clearly that NLC was acting alone. The agreement was not signed by TUC and you dont kick against something that you didnt negotiate, you never asked for.

He added that he would have preferred the TUC to demand a higher allowance so that both unions could negotiate with the government towards a common position. He said I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one naira, TUC would be asking for 10 naira, and probably the government would harmonise it.

The NLC president recalled that the disagreement began after the TUC president reportedly said the minimum wage would be due for negotiation in August 2027. Ajaero said the NLC disagreed with that position, insisting that it was inconsistent with the law, and proceeded with its own engagement with the government.

The N70000 transport intervention was one of seven resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the NLC at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Abuja on Tuesday October 27. The meeting resolved that the allowance would be paid across all levels for six months commencing from November 2026, while arrears of peculiar allowance effective May 1 2026 would be paid in three instalments. The parties also agreed to immediately constitute a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Director General Budget Office Tanimu Yakubu, Permanent Secretary Service Welfare Office Garba Abdul, Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and NLC President Joe Ajaero.