The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to suspend the implementation of recently enacted tax laws until a widespread enlightenment campaign is conducted.
In an interview with Arise Television, Benson Upah, NLC spokesperson, said while Nigerian workers are the largest tax-paying group in the country, they were not consulted in the processes that led to the passage and signing of the laws.
He added that the failure to consult organised labour in the formation of the tax laws has led to resistance, not only from workers but from Nigerians at large.
“We intend to make a push that despite the fact that we were not taken on board in the process of putting this law together, something should be done,” Upah said.
“A massive enlightenment campaign should be put in place for our members to participate, and until that is done, these laws should not be implemented
“Because the consequential effects would be quite obvious. That which we do not subscribe to will meet a form of resistance from us, but not just us; it is the Nigerians.
“We in organised labour are capable of expressing our feelings if the government speedily moves to do the needful.”
Upah said the union was deliberately ignored and refused to be carried along by the government during the deliberations of the tax laws.
“We were not consulted before these tax laws were put in place, and yet we are the biggest tax-paying community in the country,” he said.
“We did write to the government when the tax committee was being constituted, requesting for inclusion, but we were studiedly ignored, and since this became law, no one has taken the initiative to do public enlightenment for our members,” he said.
He blamed the government, saying since the laws became effective, there has been no public awareness drive to educate workers on the changes.
Upah challenged the government’s claim that individuals earning below N1 million annually are exempt, pointing out that, given the national minimum wage, virtually no formal sector worker falls below this threshold.
He said the government should urgently engage with labour groups to avoid unrest and ensure workers understand the new tax regime.
