Obi Urges FG to Suspend 5% Fuel Tax Until Nigerians Feel Economic Relief
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to suspend its planned 5 percent tax on refined fossil fuel sales, saying Nigerians should first feel the positive impact of ongoing economic reforms.
Obi made the appeal in a post titled “When Will Nigerians Truly Breathe?” shared on his verified X handle on Thursday.
He argued that governance should not be about inflicting more hardship on already struggling citizens but about reducing suffering and improving lives.
“A timely and relevant question, as a new 5% tax on all refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel, has just been announced by the Federal Government. Nigerians will now pay extra on fuel at a time when millions can hardly afford transportation,” Obi wrote.
The former Anambra State governor faulted the timing of the policy, noting that President Bola Tinubu had recently boasted about the country meeting its revenue target for the year.
“Instead of easing hardship, the government imposes more burden. Even the so-called alternative, CNG, has become unaffordable, rising from ₦230 to ₦450, while the promised subsidies have quietly disappeared,” he said.
Obi stressed that any surplus revenue should be channeled into education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation rather than new taxes.
“This 5% fuel tax should wait until Nigerians begin to see tangible improvements in their lives from all the many promises from Mr. President. Leadership is not about giving a burden, it is about reducing suffering, care, and compassion. A new Nigeria is possible,” he concluded.
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