TUC gives FG 14 days to scrap 5% petroleum tax; Warns Dangote against anti-labour practices
TUC gives FG 14 days to scrap 5% petroleum tax
…Warns Dangote against anti-labour practices
By Idun Maximus
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw its proposed five per cent tax on petroleum products or face a nationwide strike.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, in a statement jointly signed with the Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, on Monday, described the planned tax as economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.
They said the move would further compound the hardship caused by subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and collapsing Naira.
The Congress warned that should government proceed with the policy, it would mobilize its state councils, affiliates, and allied bodies for a total nationwide resistance, adding that strike action was firmly on the table.
TUC also called on civil society organisations, professional bodies, student unions, market associations, and faith leaders to stand in solidarity with workers in the struggle, insisting that Nigerians deserved economic justice, not endless punishment.
“Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments. Instead of offering relief, jobs, and solutions, it has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry. This is unacceptable”, TUC declared.
Meanwhile, the Congress also issued a stern warning to Dangote Group over what it labeled as persistent anti-labour practices and intimidation of workers within the conglomerate.
According to TUC, it had received reports from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and other affiliates such as the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN) and the Textile, Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN), alleging denial of workers’ rights to unionize, harassment, and humiliation of employees.
The union said it would not fold its arms and watch Nigerian workers treated as slaves in their own country.
“We therefore issue this direct warning: address PENGASSAN and NUPENG’s complaints fully and stop the harassment of their members without delay. Recognize and respect the rights of workers to unionize in PENGASSAN, CANMPSSAN, TGTSSAN and NUPENG immediately and unconditionally”, the statement read.
Failure to comply, TUC warned, would attract a total solidarity action from its affiliates nationwide, stressing that the labour movement stood united with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the fight.
“The TUC hereby urge the Federal Government to immediately stop this anti-people’s plan in its entirety. Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to mobilize Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance. Strike action is firmly on the table if government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy.
“Accordingly, the TUC directs all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant, watchful and wait for further communication that may accumulate into a decisive action should government dare to further ignore the collective will of the people.
“This is not an appeal. It is a final warning. An injury to one is an injury to all,” it stated.
