₦airaland Forum

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.

duduade:
These NLC are just a bunch of jokers

Kai

Mattswaggz:
With immediate effect self.......how can the people just be paying tax yet can't see the good of it.

duduade:
These NLC are just a bunch of jokers

Kai

magoo10:
There is total public waste of resources amongst political office holders that must first be addressed before any thieving Tax collection is implemented.
You want to Tax people but cannot give account of how you carelessly spend the one in your disposal.

Spiritmask:
They should use our money stolen by our politicians

nairalanda1:
On the contrary, it would be good to tax peple now...because of the following

Most of our money comes from oil and other revenue from selling raw materials, none of it comes from our pockets.

Now, take our colonial master. They have been taxing their people for centuries, even when the UK was run by autocratic rulers who simply directed the money into their accounts. Yet their system works because the people kept on rising in revolts and protests, that finally the government started working for them

NIgerians who talk about stealing of tax monies come from the 10 million of us who actually pay tax. As the vast majority don't pay, they don't care for the most part. Now imagine if it was 150 million nigerians paying tax. Ya think that they would agree for one otondo, who even if they are from their village, steal millions upon billions and get away with it?

Foreign countries work because people pay tax, and government officials know that if they touch that money for stealing, they will be in trobule. That;s why you read in the foreign media of ordinary citizens exposing corrupt officials. Paying tax is a great anti-corruption incentive.