Suspend new tax laws now, NLC, TUC urge Federal Government

Organised labour in Nigeria has renewed calls for the immediate suspension of newly introduced tax laws, warning that the reforms could worsen the economic hardship faced by workers and ordinary Nigerians.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said the tax laws were drafted and introduced without adequate consultation with workers and their representatives, describing the measures as regressive and anti-poor.

In a joint position, the labour unions argued that the new tax regime places additional financial pressure on workers at a time when inflation, rising living costs and stagnant wages are already stretching household incomes.

According to the unions, the absence of stakeholder engagement in the formulation of the laws undermines trust and raises concerns about their long-term impact on productivity and industrial harmony.

The NLC and TUC warned that implementing the tax reforms in their current form could deepen inequality and erode the purchasing power of workers, urging the Federal Government to halt enforcement and open dialogue with organised labour and other stakeholders.

They stressed that any tax policy must be fair, transparent and sensitive to prevailing economic realities, adding that reforms should focus on expanding the tax base, improving collection efficiency and curbing waste in government spending rather than imposing additional burdens on workers.

The unions called on the government to urgently review the laws and engage in meaningful consultations to ensure that any tax reforms support economic growth while protecting the welfare of Nigerian workers.