Kwara workers protest state new tax regime
The organised labour in Kwara State has appealed to the Kwara State government to immediately reverse the new tax regime imposed on workers in the state following the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 for least-paid employees in the state’s public service.
The labour expressed dismay that the state government decided to effect an infamous percentage tax-deductible from workers’ salaries contrary to the negotiation it had with the government for tax relief for workers upon the payment of the new minimum wage.
Rising from a joint State Administrative Council meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Ilorin on Thursday, the labour leaders, in a joint statement, called for a downward review of the tax percentage on salaries of workers in the state.
A statement made available to our correspondent on Friday was signed jointly by the NLC Chairman, Muritala Olayinka; TUC Chairman, Olayinka Onikijipa; Coalition of Health Workers Union (COHESU), Isaac Bolatito; and state Chairman and Secretary, Joint Negotiation Council, Saliu Suleiman and Tunde Joseph respectively.
The organised labour lamented the refusal of the state government to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000 for pensioners in the state.
It urged the state government to grant tax holiday to workers on the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage of N70,000 for 12 months to serve as succour for them.
The joint congress asked the state government to swiftly act on the demand of the labour to avert industrial disharmony.
The statement said, “The SAC of Joint Labour Centres met today to review the outcome of the new minimum wage payment to Kwara workers as approved by His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The committee observed with dismay the notorious percentage tax deducted from our members.
“This was at variance with government/labour discussion at the negotiation table for tax relief on added sum or status quo ante on the percentage tax deduction.
“In view of the above, the committee resolved that government should grant tax holiday to Kwara State workers on the added sum for at least 12 months to serve as succour for workers in the state, and to review downward the tax percentage on workers salary.
“Arising from the Joint SAC of NLC and TUC, we strongly condemned the recent tax imposed on Kwara State workers and demand reversal of it to avoid industrial disharmony.
“The Joint State Administrative Council (SAC) of NLC-TUC observed with deep concern the non-implementation of the 2024 N70,000 minimum wage for pensioners in the state.
“The SAC of NLC-TUC urged the state government to address the plight of pensioners in order to avert industrial disharmony,” the labour leaders said.
Recall that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulazaq had penultimate Saturday approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage for the least paid worker in the state as announced by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru in a statement said that the approved wage will be implemented across the Kwara State public service, with immediate effect from October 2024.
“This decision, which includes consequential adjustments to the relevant salary structures, was made after a successful tripartite meeting between government representatives, the leadership of the Organised Labour in Kwara State, — Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) — and representatives from the organized private sector,” the Commissioner said.
