The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,TUC, has asked the Federal Government to withdraw planned 5% tax on petroleum products within two weeks or risk nationwide strike.
Its President General,Comrade Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, A.Toro, disclosed this in a statement made available to Premium News on Monday.
Besides,the TUC directs all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant, watchful and wait for further communication that may lead into a decisive action should government dare to further ignore the collective will of the people.
It added:”We also call on our allies, civil society organizations, professional bodies, student unions, market associations, faith leaders, and all patriotic Nigerians to stand in solidarity with us in this struggle. Together, we must resist policies that seek to further impoverish citizens and mortgage our future.”
The union rejected the petroleum tax proposal, saying it’s an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.
Workers and citizens, it maintained, are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira.
To introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty, it said.
It added: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!Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not endless punishment.”
Besides, the union warned that it will embark on national strike if the Federal Government fails to address the concerns raised by Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over alleged persistent anti-labour practices, intimidation, and humiliation of workers within the Dangote Group.
Some other of its affiliates — the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN) and the Textile, Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN) — have also raised serious complaints of the denial of workers’ rights to unionize, harassment, and continued assault on the dignity of employees, the union said in the statement.
It added:”We put it on record that the labour movement will not fold its arms while Dangote and its companies treats Nigerian workers as slaves in their own country. No employer, no matter how wealthy or powerful, will be allowed to trample on the rights and dignity of labour.
“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.
“Failure to comply will attract total solidarity action from the Congress and its affiliates across the federation as all our affiliates, are fully united in this struggle. And let it be known: the TUC stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our sister labour center; the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in this fight to defend our affiliates and the rights of Nigerian workers everywhere.
“This is not an appeal. It is a final warning.An injury to one is an injury to all. Touch PENGASSAN, CANMPSSAN, TGTSSAN and NUPENG — you touch the entire labour movement.”
