The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has condemned the recent directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions in the country.
TUC lamented that the policies of President Bola Tinubu-led administration have continued to impose hardship, pain, and anguish on an already impoverished masses, saying many businesses have been struggling to thrive under the harsh and anti-people policies, thereby shutting down operations.
The union said this in a statement issued by its president, Comrade Festus Osifo, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Osifo stated: “It is indeed illogical that this is coming at a time that Nigerians are grappling with high cost of living that is imposed by devaluation of Naira, hyper hike in the cost of Petrol, supersonic increment in the cost of electricity tariff, etc.
“We are quite disturbed that since the inception of this administration, its policies have brought pain, anguish and sorrow on Nigerians. Whereas a bank account holder in Nigeria today is currently charged stamp duty, transfer fee, VAT on transfer fee, and all forms of account maintenance levies by both government and the banks; this burden seems not to be enough as government is poised to inflict further pain on the already battered Nigerians.
“So many policies of this government are not only imposing hardship on the downtrodden Nigerians but also on businesses, as some of them are shutting down because of the unfriendly business environment.”
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While accusing the National Assembly of colluding with members of the executives to oppress the masses, the TUC President noted that the conspiracies would be resisted.
He added: “The National Assembly that ought to be the bastion of democracy and the protector of the citizens often times engages in collusion with elements within the executive to exploit the people. How can such obnoxious law see the light of day in a truly people oriented legislative house.
“This is indeed a conspiracy of the oppressors against the masses and citizens of this country and it must be resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians.”
Osifo noted that the TUC would mobilise Nigerians nationwide to protest if the directive was not reversed.
The TUC President further alleged there was an ongoing conspiracy to drain Nigerians of their hard-earned resources which was amounting to nothing due to the hyperinflation on goods and services occasioned by government’s policies.
He said: “All Nigerians are interested in right now is the urgent conclusion of discussions around the minimum wage and not a vexatious policy that is further reducing the already depleted disposable income of the masses and indirectly ridiculing the gain which the minimum wage would have brought to the people when concluded.
“We call on the federal government to give a marching order to the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately withdraw the circular and cancel the plan levy forthwith; failure of which we will be left with no option than to mobilize all our members, stakeholders and indeed the entire masses to embark on immediate protest that would culminate into total shutdown of the Nigerian economy as this is one exploitation too many. Enough is enough; Nigerians must breathe! This extortions must stop.”
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