The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s proposed 5% tax on petroleum products, warning that such a move would further worsen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

In a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, the Congress said workers and citizens are still grappling with the harsh realities of the subsidy removal, stressing that adding another levy on petroleum products would only deepen the burden on households and businesses.

TUC issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw the planned policy, warning that failure to do so will compel the union to mobilize workers and the masses for a nationwide resistance.

The TUC argued that workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and collapsing naira, and introducing another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.

The statement warns that government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments, and that Instead of offering relief, jobs, and solutions, it has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry. This is unacceptable!

The TUC hereby urge the Federal Government to immediately stop the anti-people’s plan in its entirety and failure to do so will leave them with no option but to mobilize Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance as it directs all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant, watchful and wait for further communication that may culminate into a decisive action should government dare to further ignore the collective
will of the people.

In similar development, the TUC said it has received disturbing reports from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN and its industry sister union the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, of persistent anti-labour practices, intimidation, and humiliation of workers within the Dangote Group.