The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the federal government over the introduction of a new 5% tax on refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel.
In a post shared on his official X handle late Wednesday, Peter Obi argued that the policy will only worsen the struggles of ordinary Nigerians instead of easing their burden.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the tax should have been delayed until citizens begin to see real improvements from President Bola Tinubu’s promises.
“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 N230 to N450, 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?” he wrote.
Peter Obi stressed that true leadership is about compassion and reducing suffering, not creating more hardship for citizens.
