By Seyi Babalola
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded for the withdrawal of President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly.
It should be recalled that the bills drew strong condemnation from several sections of the country, particularly the north, who perceived them as anti-regional growth.
The NLC also urged all levels of government to prioritise citizens’ welfare and well-being in 2025.
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 emphasised the people’s and workers’ primary expectations, which include access to food and nutrition, better healthcare, quality housing, education, transportation, and increased security of lives and property, including the right to participate in decisions about how they are governed.
According to the NLC president, policy must represent transparency, honesty, and inclusivity, as well as be free of shady practices, nepotism, and strong arm methods.
“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.
