The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) don call on Federal Government make e suspend the implementation of the newly passed tax laws, say government no consult workers before dem pass am into law.
NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, talk dis one during interview with Arise Television, where e stress say Nigerian workers na the biggest tax-paying group for the country, yet dem no involve dem for the process wey lead to the passage and signing of the tax laws.
According to am, the failure to carry organised labour along don lead to strong resistance, not only from workers but from Nigerians generally.
“We intend to make a push say, even though government no take us on board when dem dey put dis law together, something suppose be done. Before any implementation, massive enlightenment campaign suppose dey,” Upah talk.
“No Enlightenment, No Implementation” — NLC
Upah say until government put in place proper public awareness and enlightenment campaign, especially for labour members, the new tax laws no suppose start at all.
E warn say the effects of implementing laws wey workers no understand or agree with go dey obvious, and resistance go come not just from labour but from the general public.
“That wey we no subscribe to go meet resistance from us, and no be only us, but Nigerians as a whole,” he add.
Labour Say Government Ignore Dem Deliberately
The NLC spokesperson also accuse government of deliberately ignoring organised labour during the formation of the tax laws.
“We were not consulted before these tax laws were put in place, and yet we be the biggest tax-paying community for this country,” Upah say.
He explain say labour even write officially to government when dem dey set up the tax committee, requesting make dem include labour representatives, but government ignore the request.
Since the laws come into effect, Upah say no single public enlightenment drive don happen to educate workers about the changes and how e go affect dem.
Minimum Wage Contradiction
Upah also challenge government claim say individuals wey earn below N1 million annually no go pay tax under the new laws.
According to am, with the current national minimum wage, almost all formal sector workers earn more than that amount, meaning say virtually every worker go be affected.
He urge government make e urgently engage labour unions, warn say failure to do so fit lead to unrest and deeper misunderstanding about the new tax regime among Nigerian workers.
