Rufai Oseni Blasts Ajaero, Osifo Over Dispute on Workers’ Welfare

Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has criticised 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 the leadership of the labour movement.

Oseni described both union leaders as unworthy of being called labour leaders, accusing them of failing 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 and coordinated advocacy associated with previous leaders, including former NLC president Peter Esele.

Oseni accused the current labour leadership of becoming divided and politicised, arguing that the disagreement had weakened workers’ representation at a time when their purchasing power and disposable income were declining.

“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,” he said.

He also questioned the unions’ response to what he described as the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil several 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,” Oseni said.

“This government failed on many promises made to labour, and labour has just been quiet about it,” he added.

The disagreement between Ajaero and Osifo followed the Federal Government’s approval of a N70,000 transport allowance for public sector workers for six months. The TUC rejected the arrangement, arguing that the NLC could not negotiate on behalf of its members without involving the other labour centre.

Osifo described the agreement as an aberration, insisting that both unions should participate in negotiations affecting their respective affiliates. Ajaero, however, maintained that the NLC could negotiate independently, citing its numerical strength and the principle of majority representation recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).