In a statement on Monday, Festus Osifo, TUC president
general, and Nuhu Toro, secretary general, said the levy would further worsen
hardship at a time when citizens are still grappling with the impact of petrol
subsidy removal, high food prices, and a weakening naira.

“Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling
from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation,
and a collapsing naira. To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is
to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens
deeper into poverty,” the statement reads.

“Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial
lambs for its economic experiments. 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 this anti-people’s plan in its entirety. Failure to do so will leave us
with no option but to mobilize Nigerian workers and the masses for a total
nationwide resistance. Strike action is firmly on the table if government dares
to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy.”

‘STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH TUC’

The TUC leaders instructed their state councils, affiliates,
and structures across the country to stay alert and await further directives,
which could lead to decisive action if the government chooses to disregard the
people’s collective will.

They also called on civil society groups, professional
bodies, student unions, market associations, and faith leaders to stand in
solidarity with the union to resist “policies that seek to further impoverish
citizens and mortgage our future”.

“Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not
endless punishment,” the union leaders added.

On July 25, the new tax law has imposed
a 5 percent surcharge on chargeable fossil fuel products.

According to the Tax Act, a fossil fuel product becomes
chargeable upon the earliest occurrence of supply, sale, or payment.

The tax levy has, however, raised concerns that the
provision could trigger further hardship on Nigerians.

Providing clarifications on September 6, the Presidential
Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee said the 5 percent fuel surcharge in
the new tax laws is not a new levy introduced by the administration of
President Bola Tinubu.

The committee said the surcharge has existed since the
Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Act, 2007, and was only restated
in the new tax act for harmonisation and transparency.