|
Listen to article
|
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly called on the Federal Government to retract the contentious tax bills currently before the National Assembly. The labor union’s stance highlights growing concerns over the potential impact of the proposed taxes on the average Nigerian citizen, urging the government to reconsider its approach to tax reform and focus on more inclusive economic policies.
In his New Year address to Nigerians, particularly the nation’s workers, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, emphasized that the call for the withdrawal of the controversial tax bills stems from a deep concern for the welfare of Nigerian workers.
Ajaero’s message highlighted the union’s commitment to protecting the interests of the workforce, urging the government to reconsider policies that could disproportionately impact the livelihoods of those already struggling.
Ajaero also touched on the crucial need for the government to embody transparency, inclusivity, and honesty in all its engagements with the Nigerian people. He stressed that these values are essential for rebuilding trust between the government and the populace, and for ensuring that policies truly serve the collective interests of the nation’s citizens, especially the working class.
The message, titled “In 2025, hope is in our collective resolve,’’ read: “As we step into the year 2025, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, extends warm New Year greetings to every worker and citizen across our great nation.
‘’The challenges of survival we have faced as a people must not hold us down. Instead, let us find inner strength to build a collective resolve to drive Nigeria out of the morass of underdevelopment that has held it captive for far too long.
“No external power will deliver us from the scourge of economic hardship and stagnation. It is only through our collective effort and determination that we can propel our nation forward.
Read also: NLC Warns Gov Okpebholo Against Locking Horns With Union
“We must build inner strength to find this collective resolve across the length and breadth of our great nation. This is our civic responsibility—one we must embrace with unwavering determination.
“We call on the government at all levels to ensure that governance translates into real benefits for the people. The welfare of the citizens remains the primary justification for the existence of any government.
“Access to food and nutrition, better healthcare, quality housing, education, transportation and greater security of lives and properties, including the right to participate in decisions on how they are ruled, are the key expectations of the people and workers.
“Policies must, therefore, reflect transparency, honesty, and inclusivity, devoid of chicanery, nepotism, and strong-arm tactics.
“To create a thriving, democratic nation, we need a system built on the tenets of social dialogue, allowing critical stakeholders to participate actively in nation-building. Such inclusiveness will foster deeper ownership of government policies, ensuring stability and sustainability.
“It is on this premise that we once again call on the federal government to withdraw its present tax bills before the National Assembly so that all key national stakeholders will be part of the process.
‘’As we embark on a national dialogue in Ibadan in January, 2025, we want to join hands in co-creating a new national tax law that would enjoy wider acceptance and fulfill its purpose of propelling national development which we believe is the main objective of government.
