NLC flays hasty tax deductions in A/Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed disappointment with the state government over its hasty implementation of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) of 2011 without recourse to the position of Labour on the matter.

In a statement at the weekend, the congress said it felt greatly pained, aggrieved and disappointed at government’s issuance of “Finance Circular No. 3” (MF/S/126/S.1/VOL. ll/23) dated 9th September, 2015 which directed the implementation of PITA in the state’s public service with effect from same month.

According to the statement by its chairman, Comrade Etim Ukpong, the labour movement considered such action as ‘’insensitive and out of courtesy’’.

“The implementation of PITA of 2011 took effect from the same month without being sensitive to the position of labour on the matter, and even the courtesy of giving a copy of the circular to the NLC”, he said.

Ukpong recalled that at the meeting convened by the finance commissioner earlier this year, labour had stated clearly its opposition to the implementation of the new tax regime and wondered why government went ahead without clear explanation through dialogue with and sensitization of the labour leaders and workers.

He therefore called on Governor Udom Emmanuel to convene a meeting with the leadership of organized labour on the implementation.