Arise Television presenter, Rufai Oseni, has berated the presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Festus Osifo, over their disagreement on workers’ welfare and leadership of the labour movement.
Oseni described both union leaders as unworthy of being called labour leaders, accusing them of abandoning their responsibility to defend Nigerian workers amid worsening economic hardship.
The Arise Television Morning Show anchor made the remarks on Tuesday while reacting to the public disagreement between Ajaero and Osifo.
He lamented that organised labour had lost the unity, coherence and advocacy standards established by previous leaders, including former Nigeria Labour Congress president, Peter Esele.
According to Oseni, the labour movement has become politicised and divided, leaving Nigerian workers without adequate representation at a time when their purchasing power and disposable income have continued to decline.
He said, “For Osifo and Ajaero, both of you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself, and that’s why you see that Labour has been dead in this administration.”
Oseni recalled that labour leaders in the past were more united and coordinated in confronting governments over policies affecting workers.
He argued that the current leadership had failed to hold the Federal Government accountable for promises made to workers.
“Wages cannot really take you anywhere. A lot has happened as regards disposable income of the people, but labour has just been quiet.
“This government failed on many promises made to labour, and labour has just been quiet about it,” he said.
The latest exchange between Ajaero and Osifo followed disagreements over the Federal Government’s N70,000 transport allowance approved for public sector workers for six months.
The dispute intensified after the TUC rejected the arrangement, insisting that the NLC could not negotiate on behalf of its members without its participation.
Osifo described the agreement as an aberration, arguing that both labour centres must be involved in negotiations affecting their respective affiliates.
However, Ajaero maintained that the NLC had the authority to negotiate independently based on its numerical strength and the principle of majority representation recognised by the International Labour Organisation, ILO.
