The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has pushed for the effective implementation of tax fairness so that those with higher incomes can pay more in taxes than those with lower incomes.
The decision was stated in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja by Mr. Eustace James, the NLC’s focal point on tax justice.
He declared that people who hold public office and build impressive structures with public money but fail to pay taxes ought to be forced to do so.
James was addressing a media colloquium and exhibition for the Fiscal Accountability for Inequality Reduction (FAIR4ALL) Project, which was sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organised by Oxfam Nigeria.
He criticised the system in which those with low incomes and the most vulnerable members of society pay greater and double taxes while those holding powerful governmental positions pay no taxes.
The goal of “tax justice” is to make taxation equitable and just, with everyone paying according to their income.
It is about ending extortion and the exploitation of the poor, as well as levying taxes in accordance with fairness alone, he stated.
James emphasised that taxes are the greatest sustainable source of public funding after identifying tax fairness as essential to decent labour.
Every citizen must pay taxes, but the problem in Nigeria has been that the poor pay more than the rich.
“When you talk about tax net expansion, it is not about taxing the poor more, it is about taxing the rich who are not paying tax in order to contribute to the tax basket,” James stated.
He added that although the wealthy continue to invade and evade taxes, the poor are ones who are exploited and extorted under the name of numerous taxes.
He claims that the tax justice movement has raised awareness of tax payment in order to combat inequality and injustice.
According to him, the NLC had no choice but to join the campaign and promote tax equity and good governance.
