The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has given the Federal Government 14 days to withdraw its proposed five percent tax on petroleum products or face a nationwide strike.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, TUC President, Festus Osifo, described the plan as “economic wickedness” that would worsen the plight of Nigerians already struggling with inflation and hardship.
According to the statement, “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) outrightly rejects the Federal Government’s planned five percent tax on petroleum products.
“This reckless proposal is nothing but an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.
“Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira.
“To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.
“Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments. Instead of offering relief, jobs, and solutions, it has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry. This is unacceptable!
“The TUC hereby urges the Federal Government to immediately stop this anti-people plan in its entirety. Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to mobilise Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance. Strike action is firmly on the table if government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy.
“Accordingly, the TUC directs all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant and watchful and to wait for further communication that may culminate in decisive action should government continue to ignore the collective will of the people.
“We also call on our allies — civil society organisations, professional bodies, student unions, market associations, faith leaders, and all patriotic Nigerians — to stand in solidarity with us in this struggle.
“Together, we must resist policies that seek to further impoverish citizens and mortgage our future.”
The union concluded its statement with a firm warning: “Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not endless punishment.”