Tax justice must be sought by all progressives, supported by global trade unions —US

The Country Programme Director (West Africa), America Solidarity Center, Mr. Christopher Johnson, has declared that tax justice in Nigeria must be sought by all progressive actors working for the improvement of the lives and life chances of workers.

Besides, he pointed out that it must be supported by the global trad union movement without regard to affiliation, sector, or political leanings.

Mr. Johnson was speaking at a two-day workshop on “Tax Justice/Halt Illicit Financial Flows,” jointly organised by the Public Service International (PSI), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) in conjunction with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

He said: “As trade unionists we understand that the activism that we undertake in the workplace is only one component of a larger and necessary fight for Labour rights and social justice.

“This critically important work being carried out by the convener of this event must be supported by the global trade union movement without regard to affiliation, sector, or political leanings. Tax Justice must be sought by all progressive actors working for the improvement of the lives, and life chances of workers.

“The conveners seek to transform social justice discourse into campaigns that will empower workers in an effort to halt the vicious assault on their rights to enjoy dignity and respect on the job, and to have the taxes extracted from their wages benefit their communities.

“This is a campaign that workers will stand behind .This is a campaign that they can actively contribute to. This is a campaign where the elite, of all types will be held to account by the masses they claim to serve.

“We live in a world that is feeling the impact of economic inequality. Workers are paying their fair share of taxes and often times are receiving very little in terms of service delivery.”

The partners; PSI, NLC, ITUC-Africa and Fredrich Ebert Stiftung, believe the only way to end poverty and inequality in Africa is to stop illicit financial flows, enthrone the practice of tax justice and end corruption on the continent.

The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, commended the partners for supporting trade unions in Nigeria to develop, deploy and sustain their own tax justice campaign in order to contribute to national agenda to end illicit financial flows from the country and to contribute to the global demand where fair taxation reigns.