The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday in Abuja advised the Federal Government to impose a special tax on the importation of luxury items.
In a goodwill message on the occasion of Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said that the special tax would further eliminate corruption in the importation of refined petroleum products.
“We propose a strategy that ensures a balance between the productive and social sectors with a focus on economic diversification cum-quality and robust housing programmes
“We urge the government to put in place a response strategy that is capable of mitigating the after-shocks as well as ensuring a robust recovery.’’
On the economy, which he said was still in the woods, Wabba said, “`We urge the government to have a rethink on how to fix the economy through robust macro-economic, civil, accountable and people-oriented policies that are capable of addressing our dependency syndrome.
“We do believe that one of the surest ways of creating jobs on a sustainable basis for this teeming workforce is to ensure a return to an industrialised economy.’’
The NLC President said that diversification and collaboration with the private sector would be critical to economic recovery and job creation.
He called for a partnership between the government and the private sector to explore the nation’s solid mineral sector.
Wabba also called for good legislations, policies, programmes and incentives on agriculture, to ensure increased local production of staple food items such as rice, fish and poultry products.
He said the same policies should be applied to the production of plant crops such as cocoa, cotton and rubber, among others.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill, Wabba said that if the bill was passed, it would unleash the potential in the sector.
He commended Federal Government’s regional and national strategy and tactical operations for rooting out the Boko Haram insurgents, saying that it had yielded considerable results.
He also applauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, for leading his troops personally at the battlefield.
Wabba also condemned the attitude of states that defaulted in the regular payment of salaries and pensions.
“If any state defaults, they will face the wrath of workers. Salaries and pensions are inalienable rights of workers and retirees and not privileges.
“”We also call for pension reforms at the state and local government levels, to enhance the security of pension funds and regular payments,” he said.
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