TUC calls for 50% tax cut, subsidised crude supply to local refiners

By Austine Agbo Emmanuel

The Nigerian Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged the federal government to cut taxes by 50% for workers.

The demands formed part of th3 resolutions from the TUC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

The key resolutions as read by Festus Osifo, President of TUC, warned that the conflict between the us and iran is driving up energy prices, shipping costs, and inflation.

It urged the federal government to treat this as a domestic economic emergency  build strategic fuel reserves, boost local refining, and use extra oil revenue to cushion workers.

The NEC also decried kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, and farm invasions, calling them an economic and labor crisis.

It demanded intelligence-driven, community-based security to protect farms, schools, highways, and workplaces, as well as support for displaced farmers and traders.

The TUC also opened that crude revenue earned above the budget benchmark used to subsidize crude to the dangote refinery and other local plants.

It said this would cut pump prices without returning to the old subsidy regime. it also demanded a 50% tax cut for manufacturing firms and workers to ease financial pressure.

The union further welcomed the federal government’s ₦10bn housing loan scheme for civil servants but said it must be transparent and not hijacked.

It also called on state governments to replicate the scheme for local government workers, private employees, and retirees.