The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a 14-day notice to the Edo state government and the police to vacate its secretariat in Benin.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement signed by Joe Ajaero and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC President and General Secretary, after its NEC meeting In Owerri, Imo state on Thursday.
According to the statement, the 14 working days deadline would elapse on January 8, 2025.
The NLC states that the police are to vacate the Secretariat premises, return all confiscated properties to the Congress, and commit to refraining from further interference in trade union activities.
The group also condemned the actions of the Police and the Governor Monday Okpebholo, of Edo State in orchestrating an invasion of the NLC State Secretariat.
They warned that non compliance with the directives will force the Congress to initiate unprecedented measures in defence of workers and trade union rights.
The NLC said the NEC meeting in Owerri was partly to Roll out its Southeast region’s Compressed Natural (CNG) Bus Services and also deliberate on critical issues impacting Nigerian workers and the general populace.
It also examined the worsening socio-economic conditions brought about by government policies, which have plunged Nigerians into unprecedented hardship and deepened the crisis of survival across the country.
The NLC expressed grave concern over the persistent cash scarcity currently plaguing business activities in the country, describing it as an unfortunate and exploitative burden on the already struggling populace.
The Union said Nigerians are being forced to forfeit 5% of their funds each time they access cash, an unacceptable situation that exacerbates the economic woes faced by millions.
The NLC called on the federal government to immediately intervene to rectify this systemic failure and protect citizens’ financial rights.
The Union emphasised that the primary aim of taxation is to generate revenue for running the government, adding that the justification of any tax system lies in its impact on the lives of the people.
The NLC noted that the discussions on taxation in a serious nation cannot exclude those who bear the brunt of the tax burden. As such, they demanded that the Tax Bill currently before the National Assembly be halted for broader consultation and meaningful engagement with Nigerian workers.
The body said it is alarmed by the worsening insecurity in the country, referencing disturbing reports that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransom this year alone across 51.8 million recorded crime incidents. 614,937 Nigerians lost their lives while 2,235,954 others were kidnapped within one year.
The Union, while reviewing the ongoing current Tax Bill on the floor of the National Assembly, described the exclusion of the organised labour in the formulation of the current Tax Bill as “unacceptable and undermines the principles of tax justice”, adding that “If labour is not at the table, it is effectively on the menu.”
