By Our Reporter

The feud between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the N70,000 monthly transport allowance to public sector workers has deepened.

Recently, Joe Ajaero, NLC president; and Festus Osifo, TUC president; have been at loggerheads over the proposed palliative from the federal government.

During an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ajaero and Osifo renewed hostilities.

Last Tuesday, the federal government announced the allowance in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) issued after a meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders in Abuja.

Twenty-four hours later, the TUC rejected the six-month transport allowance for public sector workers, calling for an increase in salaries instead.

In a riposte, Ajaero said the TUC should have negotiated its own terms with the federal government rather than reject the outcome of the NLC’s negotiations.

Osifo, however, said discussions on the allowance began before Ajaero’s meeting with the federal government, adding that the government had engaged the TUC over its position on workers’ welfare.

‘ABSENTEE PRESIDENT WHO LIVES IN US’

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Ajaero countered the TUC president.

The NLC president said the transport allowance was a product of NLC negotiation with the federal government after the union issued an ultimatum.

Ajaero said after the ultimatum, the federal government called for a meeting that led to a series of agreements, in which the transport allowance was included.

“When he (Festus) said I did not negotiate N70,000 transport allowance, I did not know what he meant,” Ajaero said.

“We (NLC) gave the government an ultimatum and the government asked for four days to meet with us. At the resumed sitting after four days, some agreements were reached.

“After every collective bargaining, the product is the agreement. It was in that agreement that the issue of N70,000 was reached.”

Speaking further, the NLC president said Osifo should be asked about the whereabouts of the 90 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses donated to the TUC by the federal government.

Ajaero described Osifo as an “absentee president”, while alleging that the TUC leader resides abroad and shuttles between Nigeria and the United States for meetings.

“He is an absentee president of the TUC. He does not live in Nigeria. He comes in from the US to attend meetings and rush back. He serves in the board of PENCOM,” Ajaero said.

“You cannot be living abroad and be holding a position in a central level organisation. I challenge him and the Nigeria Immigration Service to prove if he has been in this country for four to five months this year.”

After Ajaero completed his interview session during the programme, Osifo appeared for his right of reply.

‘A DISASTER TO THE LABOUR MOVEMENT’

Speaking during the interview, Osifo said he “really pities” the labour movement after listening to the NLC president, adding that the union once had great leaders.

“I can boldly say that Joe Ajaero is a disaster to the trade union movement in Nigeria,” Osifo said.

Osifo added that the NLC cannot negotiate on behalf of members of the TUC, since the trade union has a recognised body.

Commenting on the claim that he does not live in Nigeria, the TUC president said it is a shame that the NLC president made that comment.

Osifo said before handing over as president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in August, he was shuttling from one shop floor to another to negotiate salary increment for members.

The TUC president said he is currently in the United Kingdom for training on advanced leadership and management.

Osifo claimed that workers are being shortchanged because of Ajaero’s lack of negotiation skills.

“Ajaero has never led any union in Nigeria that is why he does not understand the principles of negotiation,” Osifo added.

“What I will recommend for him is training and retraining.”

By Our Reporter

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it expects to complete monitoring of the 62 contacts traced to an imported Ebola case by November 13.

The agency stated this in its Ebola disease situation report published on Thursday.

“Contacts are expected to complete follow-up by November. Expected completion dates range from 31 Oct to 13 Nov 2026,” the report reads.

NCDC said contact tracing and monitoring would continue.

It added that additional contact tracers had been mapped and trained to strengthen surveillance.

The agency relayed that it would “engage and assess additional contacts for possible evacuation to the quarantine facility”.

“Continue follow-up of contacts in quarantine, continue contact tracing and monitoring,” NCDC said.

The agency shared that the scope and strategy for identifying contacts had been reviewed and expanded.

It said the case definitions for Ebola disease had also been reviewed to improve the identification and management of suspected infections.

The report further listed plans to review guidelines on contact tracing, self-quarantine, self-care kits and the Ebola call protocol.

The NCDC said it would also develop an Ebola disease dashboard on the surveillance outbreak response management and analysis system (SORMAS), to improve contact management.

The agency said the National Incident Management System (IMS) had been activated.

It said the implementation of prioritised response activities continues across thematic areas, while the Incident Action Plan had been finalised.

The agency added that a high-level stakeholder meeting had been held with partner agencies to strengthen coordination, resource mobilisation and accountability in the response.

In October, the federal government said it had recorded a confirmed case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, identified 44 close contacts for tracing to prevent further transmission.

According to the minister, the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.

Nigeria’s index Ebola case was later evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment.

On October 31, the NCDC announced that two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the north-east.

The NCDC said the individuals have been isolated while contact identification and listing is ongoing.

It added that laboratory testing is also being conducted.

On Sunday, the NCDC said there are currently no laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases in Adamawa.

*** Says C-O-R an honour and a call to greater responsibility

By Omansha Ndoki

The movement for a new political direction in Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency has recorded another milestone as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the House of Representatives, Hon. Sir Charles Uchenna Okafor, (Wiper, Omeluora Omambala), has received his Certificate of Return as the party’s duly elected candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The presentation took place at the NDC National Headquarters in Abuja, where the party formally recognised Okafor as its flag bearer for the Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

The development marks another significant step in his political journey and adds momentum to the political movement championing what it describes as a rescue mission for Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency.

In his acceptance speech, Hon. Okafor expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the confidence reposed in him, particularly acknowledging the party leadership for its support, fairness and commitment to ensuring a credible and transparent primary election.

He described the Certificate of Return as both an honour and a call to greater responsibility, assuring the party leadership and supporters of his commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the NDC.

Addressing Ndi Oyi and Ayamelum, Wiper reaffirmed his determination to make the constituency work for its people, promising purposeful representation, inclusive governance and tangible dividends of democracy.

He declared that his mission was to make Oyi/Ayamelum OK through effective legislative representation, people-oriented initiatives and sustained efforts towards addressing the developmental needs of the constituency.

Popularly identified with the slogan “Nigeria Must Be OK; Oyi-Ayamelum Must Be OK,” Wiper’s political message centres on the need for responsive leadership, accountability and renewed attention to the developmental aspirations of the people.

He also highlighted the NDC’s national political vision under the presidential ticket of His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, noting that their candidacies form part of the party’s broader agenda for a New Nigeria anchored on good governance, accountability, national unity and inclusive development.