President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to withdraw the controversial tax bills from the National Assembly.
Ajaero said it was necessary to withdraw the tax bills in order to allow all key national stakeholders to be part of the process.
The tax bills are currently before the National Assembly.
In his New Year message to Nigerians, especially workers, released on January 1, Ajaero argued that building a system on the tenets of social dialogue, which allows critical stakeholders to participate actively in nation-building, would foster deeper ownership of government policies, ensuring stability and sustainability.
He said the welfare of the citizens was the primary justification for the existence of any government, urging governments at all levels to ensure that governance translates into real benefits for the people.
In the message titled “In 2025, hope is in our collective resolve”, Ajaero said while the challenges of survival Nigerians have faced were enormous, citizens must not be held down by these challenges but must “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,” Ajaero said.
“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,” he said.
The NLC president said the Nigerian people and workers expect to see “access to food and nutrition, better healthcare, quality housing, education, transportation and greater security of lives and properties, including the right to participate in decisions on how they are ruled”.
“Policies must, therefore, reflect transparency, honesty, and inclusivity, devoid of chicanery, nepotism, and strong-arm tactics,” Ajaero said.
“To create a thriving, democratic nation, we need a system built on the tenets of social dialogue, allowing critical stakeholders to participate actively in nation-building. Such inclusiveness will foster deeper ownership of government policies, ensuring stability and sustainability.
“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 said.
He urged the Federal Government to prioritize industrial peace by taking social dialogue seriously, pursuing pro-human-progress policies, and respecting agreements with trade unions.
“The increasing use of violence in engagements with workers and unions must cease, as it is a recipe for industrial disharmony. Trade unions which we are, as a pan-people organization, remain a committed partner in progress, striving for the development of Nigeria while protecting the rights of workers and citizens at large,” the NLC president said.
“We have a very large stake in our nation and are concerned about how our nation is run compelling us to thus seek to ensure that government policies give our nation optimal outcomes. While we therefore urge government to govern well it must understand that we are responsible to our members and this we cannot shirk.
“We insist that governments at all levels must comply with the provisions of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act from the very beginning of the year. Furthermore, given the economic realities imposed by recent government policies, we shall engage the government for a wage review to safeguard workers’ welfare.
“Our nation will become more productive when the incomes of workers are able to meet at least their basic needs, thus committing more to their work. In this, we believe there ought to be unanimity between us and governments at various levels. We look forward to fruitful engagement on this with our social partners as we move into 2025.
“Let us unite in our resolve to ensure a Nigeria where workers’ welfare, decent work environments, and the security of life and property are prioritized. Together, through collective effort and determination, we can transform our nation into one of progress, inclusion and shared prosperity,” he said.
