Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State branch of Trade Union Congress, TUC,Civil Liberties Organization,CLO, are other Labour Unions have rejected in its entirety the Rivers State Taxes and levies (miscellaneous Provision) bill 2016 sent by Governor Nyesom Wike to Rivers Assembly.
The stage is set for Governor Wike to clash with organised labour unions like TUC,Petroleum And Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, Nigerian Labour Congress and the Civil Society Organizations in the state if the state Governor pressurizes the Rivers Lawmakers to pass the executive Bill which they have rejected and have made their position known.
TUC said “We are of the opinion that this bill is unnecessary, ill-timed and against the interest of the people of Rivers state”.
Chairman of CLO in the state,Sotonye George,while making the position of CLO known during the public hearing organized by the Rivers Assembly Committee on Appropriation said “CLO totally rejects the bill because it is an anti-masses bill”.
He explained that when passed into law it will further impoverish the Masses to enrich the state Government.
The state Chairman of PENGASSAN,Azubuike O. Azubuike asked the lawmakers not allow themselves to be used to pass anti-masses law.
TUC said its members are particularly worried about the reintroduction of the illegal and controversial Rivers state Social services Contributory levy Law which has been declared as illegal by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
“We are therefore unsure what the Rivers state government want to achieve by listing such an illegal law in a new bill. We therefore appeal to the Rivers state House of assembly to use it good office and ensure that Rivers State Social Services Contribution Levy is expunged from the list of taxes to be collected under this law as listed in the schedule to the bill.”
“We therefore advise the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Rivers State Government to expunge the Rivers state Social Services Contributory Levy as it has been declared illegal by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction and amount to double taxation.
TUC argued that if the bill is passed into law it would give the Governor wide powers that can easily be abused.
“This is unacceptable, tyrannical and completely against the spirit and intent of constitutional democracy and should not be allowed by the House of Assembly of any State.”
After listening to the postions of the powerful Unions, the Chairman of the Rivers Assembly Appropriation Committee members.