Fuel Wahala: TUC Don Vex, Give Govt 14 Days Strike Warning Over 5% Consumption Tax

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, don give Federal Government 14-day ultimatum to cancel the proposed five percent tax on petroleum products or make dem ready for nationwide strike. TUC President, Festus Osifo, for one statement on Monday, describe the policy as “economic wickedness” wey go make Nigerians wey already dey suffer go suffer more. According to the statement: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) totally reject Federal Government plan to add five percent tax on petroleum products. This kind careless proposal no be anything but economic wickedness against Nigerians wey don already carry too much load.” “Make e clear: workers and ordinary people still dey feel the pain of fuel subsidy removal, high fuel price, food wahala, and how naira just dey fall anyhow. To come add another levy on petroleum products now na to purposely increase suffering, kill businesses, and push millions more Nigerians into deep poverty.

“Government no fit continue to use Nigerians as sacrifice for their economic trial and error. Instead of to bring relief, create jobs, and find better solution, dem choose to squeeze citizens dry. This one no dey acceptable at all! “TUC dey use this opportunity tell Federal Government make dem stop this anti-people plan completely. If dem no stop am, we no go get any other choice than to mobilize Nigerian workers and the general public for total resistance across the country. Nationwide strike dey seriously on ground if government ignore this warning and go ahead to do the policy.”  “Based on this, TUC don direct all him state councils, affiliates, and branches across Nigeria make dem shine eye, stay alert, and wait for more information wey fit lead to serious action if government still continue to ignore wetin the people want. “We still dey call on our partners civil society groups, professional bodies, student unions, market people, religious leaders, and all patriotic Nigerians make una stand well well with us for this fight. Na together we go fit stop policies wey wan put more suffering for people head and sell our future.” E come add say, “E don do. Nigerians deserve economic justice, no be this constant punishment every time.” Meanwhile, the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation (CANMPEF) don also warn say the proposed tax fit cause bigger economic wahala. Executive Secretary of CANMPEF, Mr. Femi Oke, tell Vanguard say: “The 5% surcharge on refined petroleum products go make energy cost for manufacturing companies go up, and transport cost too go rise, wey go later affect food prices and other agricultural products. We dey beg government make sure say any money wey dem collect from this tax go enter better infrastructure and improve how Nigerians dey live.”