AfriPulse
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stark warning to the Federal Government, stating that a volatile mix of aggressive taxation, stagnant wages, and mounting national debt is pushing Nigeria toward economic and democratic instability.
Speaking at the 85th birthday celebration and book launch of Hassan Summonu—the NLC’s founding President—current NLC President Joe Ajaero called for an immediate halt to “regressive” tax policies and a genuine re-engagement with organized labor.
The event, held in honor of Summonu’s memoirs titled Organise, Don’t Agonise, served as a platform for Ajaero to reflect on the historical strength of the labor movement.
“Today, we honour a titan of the working-class struggle, a man whose life and work are captured in the defiant title of his book: ‘Organise, Don’t Agonise.’ This is not just a title; it is the militant creed that has defined Summonu’s journey and the very soul of our movement,” Ajaero told the gathering.
He added, “From the shop floors and factories to the corridors of pan-African power, he taught us that the power of the people, when organised, is the ultimate answer to agony imposed by exploitation and poor governance.”
Ajaero transitioned from tribute to a scathing critique of the current administration’s fiscal management. He argued that the celebration was more than just a personal milestone; it was a necessary moment for national soul-searching.
“This event transcends a personal celebration. It is a moment of reflection on the state of our nation and the condition of the working people whose sweat builds it. Summonu’s memoirs challenge us to ask: how far have we come in realising the dreams of economic democracy for which he fought?” he asked.
Echoing questions recently raised by Summonu regarding the country’s borrowing spree, Ajaero demanded accountability: “That is why the question Comrade Summonu publicly posed a few days ago resonates: Where are all the monies being borrowed by the federal government?”
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The NLC President took particular aim at the new tax laws, which he claims were drafted in a vacuum that deliberately shut out the very people they affect most. He warned that ignoring the input of the masses is a recipe for social unrest.
“The philosophy of ‘Organise, Don’t Agonise’ also implies that the state has a duty to engage, not enrage. Policies on fuel pricing, taxation, wages and social services must be crafted with the active and respected input of those who represent the workers and the masses,” Ajaero insisted.
He further detailed the flaws in the current legislative process: “The tax laws went through a process that clearly excluded Nigerian workers and the masses who are the major taxpayers in this country. From the Presidential Committee on Tax, Nigerian workers were deliberately excluded, and we warned the nation of the dangers.”
The result, according to Ajaero, is a regressive system that punishes the poor: “Today, the result is clear, laws with serious alterations directed at making workers and the poor poorer. Tax that taxes the national minimum wage is not fair. Tax that imposes heavy burdens on people living in excruciating poverty is regressive.”
Ajaero urged the government to abandon what he described as “grandstanding” and instead focus on institutional integrity. He specifically demanded the full constitution of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Board.
“We do not see anything wrong in pausing along this negative path, rethinking and redirecting,” Ajaero suggested. “The federal government must immediately and fully constitute the National Pension Commission PenCom’s Board and address the concerns of Nigerians on the tax law, instead of the present grandstanding.”
He warned that moving forward without clarity or consensus would only damage the nation’s democratic fabric: “Insisting on going ahead amid confusion is like muddling along in darkness. This dangerous pattern undermines tax administration itself and indeed our democracy. Your legacy must be in crafting credible laws that strengthen institutions, not undermine them. When you bypass key stakeholders and rule by strong arm, you negate public trust and threaten national stability.”
Ajaero concluded with a pledge that the NLC would remain a thorn in the side of oppressive policies: “We will continue to organise. We will continue to challenge power. We will continue to fight for a Nigeria where no worker has to agonise over poverty, insecurity, heavy taxation or a stolen future riddled with national debt.”
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Source: RipplesNigeria | Read the Full Story…
