The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed concerns over its exclusion from discussions on the Federal Government’s proposed Tax Reform Bill, urging more dialogue to ensure workers’ interests are adequately represented.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking at the union’s secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, emphasized the need for clarity on certain provisions of the bill. He called on both the government and the public to critically examine the document to avoid misinterpretation and misinformation.
“I will implore everybody to read and understand what is embedded in the Tax Reform Bill. I think it’s all over the internet now on Google and social media. Also, the Federal Government did not include NLC in the dialogue of the Bill,” Ajaero stated.
The event, which included a dialogue session organized by the NLC Central Working Committee, also featured the inauguration of ten Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses donated by the union to the South West.
Speaking on the tax bill, Professor Godwin Oyedokun, an expert in accounting and financial development, stressed that taxation remains a crucial tool for national development. He cautioned against outright rejection of the bill by labour unions, instead advocating for proper engagement to address concerns such as double taxation and high personal income tax rates.
“Rejection of the Bill by the labour unions in the country would not solve the issues of double taxation or high percentage deduction on personal income tax.
“I will call on the Federal Government to invest more in infrastructural development as a way of improving the standard of living of average citizens,” Oyedokun noted.
In a show of support for the NLC’s transportation initiative, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by Deputy Governor Chief Bayo Lawal, commended the union’s efforts and encouraged further investment in CNG-powered buses to benefit workers and the general public.
