Workers in Kwara state are protesting over the new tax regime imposed on them in the state.

The organised labour in Kwara State called on the government to immediately reverse the new tax regime which began following the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000.

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.

“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.