NLC pushes fight for corruption to tax evasion.

........Demands Tax justice

By Yetunde Verissimo, The Nigerian Voice, Abuja

The Nigeria Labor Congress(NLC), on Wednesday, 12th October 2016, held a One day campaign walk and courtesy visit to the ministry of Finance, in Abuja.

The campaign was a medium to call the attention of the Government to tax evasion by some multinationals and illicit financial flow from Africa.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who spoke during the walk to the ministry of Finance, said that the campaign was to demand tax justice in Nigeria sighting that only the working class were known to pay tax which is less than 30 million of the total population.

"The issue of tax justice has been an issue that as been canvassed over time and therefore this is a campaign to demand for tax justice (avoidance of payment of tax and wiring of taxes to tax havens around the world). Most multinational and strong and powerful individuals don't pay tax. We are aware of the Panama leak which have actually given us sufficient information."

He also noted that such fund if recovered would benefit the country at such a time like this though Nigeria was not alone on this. Africa is losing about $50 billion annually through illicit Financial Flows and tax evasions according to an African Union (AU) report.

"This is another leg to the fight against corruption, it should not be only on the issue of solid cash within our country. A larger proportion of the wealth of Africa is taken through this Illicit Financial Flow (IFF).The AU report puts the figure at $50 billion annually being taken out of Africa through illicit Financial Flows (IFF).Side by side with the wholistic issue of fighting corruption, we must also demand for tax justice.

The Minister of finance, kemi Adeosun, who was attending the Federal executive council meeting at the state house, was represented by the Director, Special Projects Mr. Mohammed Dikwa. He assured the NLC that the letter will be promptly delivered to the Minister who will act on it.

"I want to assure you that the issue of tax you have talked about is the priority of this government. This protest is going to receive the highest attention of the government. I will hand over the letter to her as soon as she is back and will ensure that the government will work on it and get back to you."

According to reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigeria loses about 0.5% of it GDP, approximately 2.6billon dollars, to corporate income tax incentives given to companies with Pioneer status.