Civil servants and concerned citizens in Yobe State have called on the state government and relevant authorities to provide a clear explanation for deductions reflected in workers’ September 2026 salaries.
The workers, in a letter addressed to the Executive Governor, Head of Service, Commissioner for Finance, Yobe State Internal Revenue Service and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said they were concerned about changes in the deductions appearing on their payslips.
They referred to a statement issued by the NLC Yobe State Council on September 28, 2026, which attributed the deductions to the implementation of the Federal Government’s tax reform.
The workers acknowledged that taxation was a lawful obligation and that tax reforms could form part of broader economic and fiscal policies. However, they stressed that taxation must be transparently administered and clearly explained to those affected.
According to them, the major concern is not opposition to taxation, but the need to understand why the deductions changed, how the new figures were calculated and whether all deductions were accurate and legally justified.
They asked the authorities to explain the specific factors responsible for the changes, the tax formula or applicable provisions used in calculating the deductions and whether the deductions were applied uniformly or based on individual incomes, allowances and applicable reliefs.
The workers also questioned whether adequate information was provided to employees and organised labour before the new deductions were implemented.
They urged the authorities to establish a mechanism through which workers could challenge deductions they believed were incorrect and obtain prompt corrections where necessary.
The concerned workers called for a simple and verifiable breakdown of salary calculations showing gross salary, allowances, taxable income, tax deductions, other statutory deductions and net salary.
They argued that every worker should be able to understand why the amount paid into their bank account differs from what they previously received.
The group also appealed to the NLC to go beyond urging workers to remain calm and law-abiding by obtaining official explanations, relevant figures and documentary evidence from the authorities.
They said workers deserved answers to basic questions, including what changed, why it changed, the law or policy authorising the change, how individual tax liabilities were calculated and what would happen if an error was discovered.
The workers maintained that calls for calm should not prevent legitimate accountability, stressing that peaceful engagement and transparency could be pursued simultaneously.
They further urged the Yobe State Government to convene an urgent meeting involving government representatives, labour and tax authorities to explain the deductions, address workers’ concerns and resolve verified cases of erroneous or excessive deductions.
The workers said the current economic situation made salary deductions particularly significant to employees and their families, noting that even seemingly small deductions could have considerable effects on household budgets.
They emphasised that they supported lawful taxation, responsible revenue collection and legitimate tax reforms, but insisted on transparency, due process, proper calculation, meaningful consultation and protection against erroneous deductions.
“This is not a call for confrontation. It is a call for clarity and responsible governance,” the concerned civil servants and citizens stated.
They urged the state government, Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Finance, relevant tax authorities and the NLC to urgently provide an evidence-based explanation of the September deductions.
They said such clarification would help reduce confusion, while verifiable calculations and prompt correction of genuine errors would strengthen confidence and protect the interests of both workers and government.