The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Kazeem, has called on the Federal Government to grant a 50 per cent tax relief to public servants.

Kazeem said at a forum with workers in Lagos that this would enable workers in the state and federal services to enjoy their minimum wage.

“We want the government to grant the tax relief because we do not want the little benefit that workers would benefit from the N18,000 minimum wage to be sucked by the current high tax rate,’’ he said.

The chairman argued that N18,000 was a far cry from the workers’ demand for a N52,200 minimum wage in a susceptible economy with high inflation rate like Nigeria.

“Nigeria is built and sustained on the back of the impoverished workers who are treated like parasites by the ruling elites who place their interest and ambition over the needs of the people,’’ he said.

The union leader said it was time for political leaders to show interest and make sacrifice that would benefit the workers.

He said it was also pertinent for the government to reduce the high emoluments and allowances of political public office holders.

On anti-labour activities, Kazeem warned that the union would not tolerate activities of foreign investors who disrespected labour laws and refused to adhere to industrial safety measures.

He gave the assurance that the union would partner with regulatory agencies to monitor the activities of such companies, especially those in the food and beverage sector.