The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to raise taxes across the board for the ‘rich’ and ensure that governors above 50 years resign.
The recommendations were made by the union via a letter signed by NLC’s president, Ayuba Wabba, and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari. The letter, dated August 8th, was in response to recommendations made by Nigerian governors in July.
As part of the recommendations, the governors had asked the FG to raise VAT to 15% as well as offer public workers older than 50 years a one-off retirement package to avert the looming economic crisis. The governors’ proposals were said to be part of coordinated efforts to instill fiscal discipline and prevent the nation from imminent economic collapse. However, the NLC said the implementation of the retirement proposal would lead to the sacking of about a quarter of the public sector workforce.
Due to current global realities, the workers’ union also asked the federal government to make a 50 percent salary review. It urged the Federal Government to “raise taxes across the board for the rich, including increased taxes on luxury goods and lifestyles”. The Union, however, supported the governors for quick implementation of the updated Stephen Oronsaye Report.
The union also supported the governors’ suggestion for the centralisation of the collection of all federal oil and non-oil taxes in one agency.
