The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba has stated that the union completely rejected the proposals to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) which the Federal Government said was a means of funding the 2019 Budget.
NLC equally warned that any increase in VAT or PAYE would not only rob workers of the minimal relief from the increase from the national minimum wage but would also leave the nation’s economy in dire straits.
Wabba, who was represented by Uche Ekwe, HOD, International Relations NLC on the occasion of the NLC state delegates conference held in Lokoja, Kogi State, also urged the Federal Government to consider other progressive ways of financing the budget, saying “Government should adopt progressive taxation in a manner that captures more people in tax and also ensures that the rich and luxury items are properly taxed.”
“We have crossed the bridge of debate whether state governments can pay the new national minimum wage or not. The feedback we got from the nationwide rallies for new national wage which took place in January 2019 indicated that most state governments are willing to pay the new national minimum wage once Mr. President grants his assent. The truth is that if state governments cut down on high cost of governance and corruption, they will be more than able to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000.
“We have demonstrated tenacity in the pursuit of a new national minimum wage for workers. We have held several rallies, protest marches at both federal and state levels and even embarked on a few strikes to press home our demand for a new national minimum wage. A few weeks ago, the two chambers of the National Assembly passed the National Minimum Wage (2019) Amendment Bill. The bill was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, 2019. There cannot be a more perfect May Day gift for Nigerian Workers,” he said.
“Well, the upward review of the national minimum wage is not so much a gift as it is the right of workers. This right was delayed for too long. As Mr. President ordered during the signing into law of the National Minimum Wage (2019) Amendment Bill. I urge the incoming leadership of our state council to make the immediate payment of the new national minimum wage of N30,000 and review of monthly pension by state government your top priority, ” Wabba said.
He equally hinted that at the June 2015 and 2016 Strategic Leadership Retreats of NLC, they made a collective pledge to return to funding principles of their movement, adding that their resolve in that regard was supposed to find expression in the renewal of their commitment to genuine struggle for social justice, workers’ right and human dignity.
He said that he expects that this conference would awaken a fresh passion that seeks to invest workers completely in the fight to improve their collective working and living conditions, as he urge every delegate, labour leader, organiser, women and youth leaders to leave the conference asking ‘How can I be of better service to Nigerian workers, the labour movement and to the Nigerian State?’
Wabba also hinted that this clarion call to service makes no better appeal at no other time than now when the nation is confronted with myriads of social, economic and political challenges.
“Some of our state governments are still owing arrears of salaries, pension and gratuity,” he said, stressing that this ugly situation has persisted despite Federal Government’s bailout and budget support initiatives which at the last count is close to two trillion Naira.
Victoria Nnakaike, Lokoja
