The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s planned 5% tax on petroleum products, describing the proposal as “reckless act of economic wickedness.”

Last week, the Federal government announced that the fuel tax which has been in existence will be reintroduced on a later date to be announced by the Minister of Finance.

While defending the tax, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, said the revenue to be generated from the tax will be used to provide steady funding for road projects and close the country’s infrastructure gaps.

However, in a joint statement released yesterday, September 8, Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro, President and General Secretary of TUC respectively, explained that Nigerians were already overburdened with different taxes.  TUC has asked the government to withdraw the proposal within 14 days, vowing to shut down critical sectors in the country if the government failed to do so.

The labour leaders, who described the new tax as unacceptable, argued that Nigerians cannot be used as sacrificial lambs again, declaring that all the affiliates of the Congress had been placed on standby.

“This reckless proposal is nothing but an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.

Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira.

To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.

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!

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.”

Vowing to resist the implementation of the tax, the Congress added

“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 cumulate into a decisive action should government dare to further ignore the collective will of the people.

“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 .Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not endless punishment.” the union