NEWS
Ajero Faults New Tax, Urges Review
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised Nigeria’s newly introduced tax laws.
Ajaero, in Abuja on Wednesday, maintained that it had no workers’ input and would place additional financial burden on low-income earners.
He shared his views at the unveiling of the memoir of former NLC President, Hassan Summonu, and the celebration of his 85th birthday.
The labour leader noted that his constituency was deliberately left out of the presidential tax reform process, despite being major taxpayers, adding that the result was a law that increases hardship on workers and the poor.
He said, “The Tax Laws went through a process that clearly excluded Nigerian workers and masses who are the major taxpayers in Nigeria.
“From the Presidential Committee on Tax, which Nigerian workers were deliberately excluded, we knew that the workers and masses were going to be on the menu (“eaten”); we said so and alerted the nation, then the Legislative processes; we warned of the dangers but no one listened. Today, the result is clear, laws with serious alterations directed at making workers and the poor poorer have become the outcome.
“Tax Law that imposes a heavy burden on workers and the poor is not progressive. Tax that taxes the national minimum wage is not fair.
“Tax that taxes the masses who are living in excruciating poverty is regressive. That was why we were excluded from the Committee and that was why our warnings went unheeded. We do not see anything wrong in pausing along this negative path, rethinking, and redirecting.”
Ajaero described the law as regressive, alleging that it imposes heavier taxes on those already struggling with economic hardship.
He said taxes affecting those earning the minimum wage could not be described as fair or progressive.
The labour leader called on the Federal Government to review the law, warning that continuing with its implementation without addressing concerns could undermine public trust and democratic principles.
Ajaero said, “Insisting on going ahead is akin to muddling along in confusion and darkness since we do not know which one is truly the Law. Continuing with this is a dangerous pattern that seriously undermines the Tax administration itself and indeed our democracy.
“We advise this government; your legacy must be in crafting foundational and credible Laws that strengthen institutions, not undermining them.
“When you bypass key stakeholders, distort acts of parliament, and rule by strong arm, you make a mockery of our democracy. You negate public trust and threaten national stability. True democracy is not just about elections; it is about the rule of law, institutional integrity, and governance that serves the many, not the few.”
He also urged the government to fully constitute the PENCOM Board and engage labour unions more meaningfully on policies affecting workers.
“We use this platform to demand, as Comrade Sunmonu would have, that the Federal Government immediately and fully constitute the PENCOM Board and address immediately the concerns of Nigerians concerning the Tax Law instead of the present grandstanding by Mr Oyedele and Zach,” he added.
ALSO READ: Malami Speaks Out On Court Ruling, Urges Nigerians To Stay Calm
Ajaero further reiterated the NLC’s demand for the government to address workers’ wages ahead of the next statutory national minimum wage negotiations.
He said, “Let this celebration of a life spent organising inspire a new chapter. Let the government move from agonising the people to organising with them. Let us build a democracy that delivers not just political freedom but economic liberation, where the wealth of the nation serves the welfare of its people. It is on this note that we once again call on the Federal Government to urgently address the Wages of Nigerian workers before next year’s statutory negotiation of the National Minimum Wage.
“Comrade Summonu, as we launch your book today, we pledge to keep its central message alive. We will continue to organise. We will continue to challenge power. We will continue to fight for a Nigeria where no worker has to agonise over poverty, insecurity, heavy Taxation or a stolen future riddled with national debt.”
There have been growing calls for the suspension of the recently signed tax reform laws by President Bola Tinubu, with opposition figures warning that the policy could worsen economic hardship and lead to serious social consequences.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
ALSO READ: NNPC, Dangote Team Up to Power Nigeria’s Energy Future
A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Appeal Court Deals Major Blow to Aiyedatiwa’s Re-election Hopes in Ondo
After Turbulent Elections, Portugal Swears In Seguro as President
JUST IN: Nigerians Reeling as Dangote Sparks Another Spike in Fuel Prices
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
