The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called on the Federal Government to engage the union in discussions on the Tax Reform Bill, stressing the need for workers to have a say in the proposed tax changes.
Ajaero made this appeal during a dialogue on the Tax Reform Bill at the NLC Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan. The event, organized by the NLC Central Working Committee, also marked the inauguration of ten Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses donated by the union to the South West region.
Ajaero noted that certain aspects of the bill required further clarification from the government to ensure better understanding among Nigerians.
“I will implore everybody to read and understand what is embedded in the Tax Reform Bill. I think it’s all over the internet now on Google and social media. Also, the Federal Government did not include NLC in the dialogue of the Bill,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the bill to avoid misinterpretation and misinformation that could arise from a lack of awareness.
During a lecture at the event, Professor Godwin Oyedokun, an expert in accounting and financial development, emphasized the importance of understanding the bill before forming opinions on it.
He acknowledged concerns about double taxation and high personal income tax rates, stating that rejecting the bill outright would not resolve these issues. Instead, he urged the government to prioritize infrastructural development to improve living standards.
“Tax is inevitable and must be embraced by all for the development of any country,” he added.
As part of the event, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by Deputy Governor Chief Bayo Lawal, commended the NLC for donating ten CNG buses to the South West region.
He encouraged the union to procure additional buses to improve transportation for workers and residents across the state.
The call for dialogue on the Tax Reform Bill reflects growing concerns over government fiscal policies, particularly their impact on workers and the wider economy.