PENGASSAN condemns FG’s plans to tax pensions, gratuities

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has condemned the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) and States Internal Revenue Services decision to tax workers’ gratuities and terminal benefits.

It said the decision fell outside the provisions of the Federal Tax Laws and would infringe on workers rights, adding that it would increase poverty and reduce workers’ life span.

The association said this in a communiqué signed by its President, Comrade Francis Johnson and General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

PENGASSAN, specifically accused the Lagos State government through the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) of the plot to tax pension and vowed to resist the implementation of the plan, which it claimed was to further impoverish the Nigerian workers.

They charged all workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and other affiliate labour unions to reject and resist the planned taxation of pensions, gratuities and terminal benefits.

Meanwhile, the Group Secretary, PENGASSAN Group Executive Council of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Comrade Sulaiman Sulaiman, said problems would continue to occur as long as the Chairman of the Board of NNPC continues to meddle in affairs of the corporation, saying the day-day running of the NNPC rests with the management.

He said any attempts to allow the chairman to interfere in the running of the corporation would spell doom for the country and create an avenue for abuse.

A statement by the GEC said NNPC’s management should be commended in its efforts to ensure that the ailing refineries begin operation as soon as possible, adding that the move was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to make the refineries work to full capacity.

“We are convinced that the recent re-organisation in NNPC is in good faith and in tandem with our call to allow internal growth in the system through hard work and positive appraisals.

“We shall continue to reject and vehemently resist attempts to meddle in the day-to-day running of the organisation by non-executive officials of the corporation. We will no longer allow our institution to be an avenue of settling friends and cohorts,” he said.