NLC And Governor Aregbesola Set To Go To War

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Osun State have expressed their determination to tackle the government on proposed plans to increase tax paid by public workers in the state.

Also, the labour has rejected the service of a consultancy firm, identified as CHARMS, contracted by the governor to effect e-payment and salary automation of the civil servants in the state.

The state chapter of the NLC, under the leadership of Comrade Saka Adesiyan, had last week, at the celebration of the pensioners day, in Osogbo, raised the alarm over the preparation of new tax regime by the government, other than the uniform one from the National Joint Tax Board (NJB), saying that arrangement had been concluded to make workers pay the arrears of the new rates from January 2012 till date.

Hence, in a letter forwarded to the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday, the labour unions said, “The entire labour movement and workers of Osun State regretfully wish to bring to your notice our observations and dissatisfaction on the issue of payroll, workers’ welfare and condition of service in Osun.”

The letter continues: “the issue of excess taxation is another terrible source of concern for the generality of workers in the public service of Osun State.

We, hereby, call on the state government to take urgent action towards immediate reduction in the tax regime and any attempt to force workers to pay any form of tax arrears will be considered a direct attack on the workers in state.”

Source: Legit.ng