Thursday, January 2, 2025 - The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for the withdrawal of the Tax Reform Bills forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly .
The bills has elicited criticisms from some parts of the country,
especially from northern leaders who say the bill won't favour their region.
In its New Year message to Nigerians, especially workers, the President
of NLC, Joe Ajaero, said organised labour would step up its battle for an
upward wage review for workers to mitigate the high costs of living.
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.
“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.
“As we move into 2025, we urge the federal government to prioritize
industrial peace by taking social dialogue seriously, pursuing
pro-human-progress policies, and respecting agreements with trade unions.
“The increasing use of violence in engagements with workers and unions
must cease, as it is a recipe for industrial disharmony. Trade unions which we
are, as a pan-people organization, remain a committed partner in progress,
striving for the development of Nigeria while protecting the rights of workers
and citizens at large.
“We have a very large stake in our nation and are concerned about how
our nation is run compelling us to thus seek to ensure that government policies
give our nation optimal outcomes. While we therefore urge government to govern
well it must understand that we are responsible to our members and this we
cannot shirk.
“We insist that governments at all levels must comply with the
provisions of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act from the very beginning of the
year. Furthermore, given the economic realities imposed by recent government
policies, we shall engage the government for a wage review to safeguard
workers’ welfare.
“Our nation will become more productive when the incomes of workers are
able to meet at least their basic needs, thus committing more to their work. In
this, we believe there ought to be unanimity between us and governments at
various levels. We look forward to fruitful engagement on this with our social
partners as we move into 2025.
“Let us unite in our resolve to ensure a Nigeria where workers’ welfare,
decent work environments, and the security of life and property are
prioritized. Together, through collective effort and determination, we can
transform our nation into one of progress, inclusion and shared prosperity
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