NLC sought for the withdrawal of Tax Reform Bills in the new year demands message to President Bola Tinubu.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the withdrawal of the Tax Reform Bills forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly.
This Nigeria news platform recalls that the bills had drawn sharp criticisms from some parts of the country, particularly the north, which saw them as anti-growth in the region.
The NLC also appealed to the government at all levels to prioritise the welfare and well-being of the citizens in 2025.
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The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a New Year message to Nigerians, especially workers, 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,” Ajaero said.
He highlighted the key expectations of the people and workers to include 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.
The NLC boss said policies must, therefore, reflect transparency, honesty, and inclusivity, devoid of chicanery, nepotism, and strong-arm tactics.
He advocated for a system built on the tenets of social dialogue, allowing critical stakeholders to participate actively in nation-building, adding that 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,” he added.
