TUC Threatens Nationwide Strike Over 5% Petroleum Tax
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to withdraw its proposed five per cent tax on petroleum products.
TUC President General, Comrade Festus Osifo, and the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, issued the warning in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Describing the proposed tax as “economic wickedness,” the TUC said the policy would worsen the hardship already faced by Nigerians struggling under subsidy removal, rising fuel prices, food inflation, and a weakened naira.
“To now introduce another levy is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty,” the statement read.
“Nigerians cannot continue to be used as sacrificial lambs for economic experiments. This tax proposal is anti-people and totally unacceptable.”
Union Warns of Total Shutdown
The TUC called on the government to immediately withdraw the plan, warning that failure to do so would leave it with no option but to mobilise Nigerians for a total nationwide strike.
“Strike action is firmly on the table if government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy,” the union said.
It also directed all state councils, affiliates, and structures to remain alert for further instructions that could lead to decisive action.
The TUC further called on civil society groups, professional bodies, student unions, religious leaders, and market associations to join forces in resisting what it described as an unjust economic policy.
“Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not endless punishment,” the statement added.
TUC Condemns Dangote Group Over Alleged Anti-Labour Practices
In a separate statement, the TUC also condemned alleged anti-labour practices within the Dangote Group, accusing the company of intimidating and harassing workers and denying them the right to unionize.
The union referenced allegations by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which accused Dangote companies of violating workers’ rights and subjecting employees to degrading treatment.
“We will not fold our arms while Dangote treats Nigerian workers as slaves in their own country,” TUC warned.
“No employer, no matter how wealthy, will be allowed to trample on labour.”
The TUC demanded that PENGASSAN and NUPENG be recognized by the company and that all grievances be addressed immediately and unconditionally.
Failure to comply, the union warned, could trigger nationwide solidarity action, with the TUC and its affiliates standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“This is not an appeal. It is a final warning. An injury to one is an injury to all. Touch PENGASSAN, CANMPSSAN, TGTSSAN, or NUPENG, and you touch the entire labour movement,” it concluded.
