N70,000 Allowance Row: Labour Veterans Move To End NLC, TUC Feud

Former leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have moved to resolve the growing disagreement between the two labour centres over the federal government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers.

The veterans involved in the intervention include, former NLC presidents; Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the former TUC presidents; Comrade Peter Esele, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and Comrade Quadri Olaleye.

Former NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, disclosed this yesterday at the 52nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Abuja.

Wabba said labour veterans from both centres had already held preliminary discussions on the disagreement and secured the commitment of the current leadership of the NLC and TUC to resolving the matter through dialogue.

He described the disagreement as an internal family misunderstanding rather than a fundamental division within the organised labour movement, stressing that both centres shared the same objective of protecting Nigerian workers.

According to him, the veterans have agreed that hostilities should stop while efforts are made to bring the two leaderships together for a formal meeting to address the issues and prevent a recurrence.

Wabba said, “So that seeming misunderstanding has escalated and we have said all hostilities should stop. And we will actually try to meet with them to see what happened and how can future occurrence also be prevented.

Basically, I can tell you for sure that veterans from both sides, TUC, NLC have actually met and tried to look at the issue and said we will meet formally if all of them are set.

We communicated with them and they mutually accepted which was what was declared here. The TUC General Secretary was here, I was here, and the NLC President was here. All of us embraced ourselves and said, well, it’s a family issue.”

LEADERSHIP reported that the disagreement between the NLC and TUC followed the federal government’s approval of a N70,000 transport allowance for public servants and workers.

While the NLC negotiated its payment as a wage award with the federal government, the TUC has argued that the amount should be integrated into workers’ salaries to make it a permanent component of their earnings rather than a temporary payment that could be withdrawn after six months.

The differing positions have generated public exchanges between the two labour centres, raising concerns about unity within organised labour.

NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero reaffirmed the importance of solidarity within the labour movement, describing the Medical and Health Workers Union as a critical pillar of the NLC.

The NLC president acknowledged the significance of collective action in defending workers’ interests and called for sustained support for the labour movement.

He maintained that workers’ welfare remained central to the union’s activities, stressing that the struggle was about securing conditions that would enable Nigerian workers to survive amid prevailing economic difficulties.

Ajaero also made references to the N70,000 allowance, suggesting that the existing arrangement should not be discarded without a viable alternative.

Ajaero said, “So, now that we have 70, on top of 70, you know where we are going to start from. And you can’t take away that 70. It’s like putting your hand inside the heart of a crocodile without having a replacement”.

On his part, TUC general-secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, explained the disagreement, describing it as a difference over the structure and sustainability of the proposed allowance rather than a breakdown in the relationship between the two centres.

Toro said the NLC was demanding the payment of the N70,000 as a wage award, while the TUC wanted the amount incorporated into workers’ salaries as a permanent component.

Toro also confirmed that veterans from both labour centres were already engaging the leadership to resolve the disagreement.

Earlier, MHWUN president , Comrade Ado Sani, called for stronger unity within the labour movement, particularly in confronting the economic difficulties facing Nigerian workers and securing the implementation of agreements reached with the federal government.

Sani said the country’s economic situation, characterised by rising living costs, insecurity and declining purchasing power, required a united and determined labour movement.

He expressed support for the NLC’s call for renegotiation of the national minimum wage and substantial palliatives to cushion the economic hardship confronting workers.

The MHWUN president also urged the federal government to honour existing agreements with organised labour, warning that failure to implement collective agreements could undermine industrial relations and trigger further disputes.

He specifically raised concerns over the continued delay in implementing the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment, despite the suspension of the 84-day strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) in February 2026 following the signing of a terms of settlement with the federal government .

Sani said the government had failed to meet the April 2026 implementation timeline, adding that the patience of health workers was being stretched.

He warned that the last JOHESU strike had been suspended rather than called off or abandoned, urging the Ministers of Health and Labour to prevent another round of industrial action.

The union president further disclosed that MHWUN was awaiting directives from the NLC and TUC, which had undertaken to take over the health workers’ outstanding demands.

Sani said, “Government should understand that nothing is more expensive than a signed agreement that is not honoured, as it costs the state its credibility and it costs the patient quality care. JOHESU has shown greater understanding, but it seems that our peaceful disposition is being taken for granted.

Meanwhile, we are waiting for further directives from the two labour centres, the NLC and TUC who promised to take over the demands.”