The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to apply the brake on the implementation of the five per cent fuel tax.
Obi, in a post on his verified X handle, opined that Tinubu should let Nigerians begin to feel tangible impacts of the administration’s economic reforms before imposing another tax on the citizens.
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He added that leadership is not about unleashing hardship on the people, but easing their burdens.
His post was titled: “When will Nigerians truly breathe?”
“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.
“That is, Nigerians will pay a 5% tax when buying their everyday fuel or diesel at a time when millions can hardly even afford the cost of transportation.
“Mr. President just yesterday boasted that Nigeria has met its revenue target for the year. Yet instead of easing hardship, the government imposes more burden on Nigerians.
“Even the so-called alternative, CNG, has become unaffordable, rising from about ₦230 to ₦450, while the promised subsidies on the CNG have quietly vanished.
“If our revenues are truly ‘excessive’ as claimed, should they not first be used to fund education, healthcare and pulling Nigerians out of poverty? Why tax citizens who cannot even breathe anymore?
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“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, it is about care and compassion. A new Nigeria is POssible.”
