The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the planned five per cent tax on petroleum products, saying failure to do so would leave the Congress with no option but to mobilise for a nationwide resistance.

President General of TUC, Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, in a statement yesterday, lamented that the reckless proposal was nothing but an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.

According to them, workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation and a collapsing naira.

To now introduce another levy on petroleum products, the labour leaders said, is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.

Noting that the government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments, they argued that instead of offering relief, jobs and solutions, the government has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry, stressing that it was unacceptable.

To this end, the TUC has directed all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant, watchful, and wait for further communication that may culminate in a decisive action should the government dare to further ignore the collective will of the people.

“We also call on our allies, civil society organisations, professional bodies, student unions, market associations, faith leaders, and all patriotic Nigerians to stand in solidarity with us in this struggle. Together, we must resist policies that seek to further impoverish citizens and mortgage our future,” they said.