5 Percent Petrol Tax: TUC Threatens Strike

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has urged the Federal Government to shelve its plan to introduce five percent tax on petroleum products in the country. The new tax will impoverished Nigerians, the TUC said on Monday.

The Congress yesterday gave the government 14-day ultimatum to rescind the decision to impose the tax.
Starting from January 2026, Nigerians are expected pay five percent tax on all purchases of petrol and diesel, and other petroleum products, according to the Tax Law recently signed by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Not a few Nigerians have however expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed tax , saying the new tax regime will further throw many Nigerians, who are currently battling with the present economy situation poorer.
Recall the Taiwa Oyedele, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform had last week said the federal government had yet to decide when the petroleum tax will fully take effect.,
In a statement issued on Monday, TUC’s National President, Festus Osifo, and its Secretary General, Nuhu Toro said Nigerians should not be further subjected to pains as a result of the new tax regime, warning that the tax will lead to poverty, business collapse, high food inflation, among other economic problems.
The union said Nigerians should not be used as sacrificial lambs by the government which is trying to experiment various economic policies, warning that it’s ‘unacceptable” for the Tinubu administration to want to make life unbearable for Nigerians.
“To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty,’ TUC said.
Stressing that“Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments. Instead of offering relief, jobs, and solutions, it has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry. This is unacceptable!
“The TUC hereby urge the Federal Government to immediately stop this anti-people’s plan in its entirety. Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to mobilize Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance. Strike action is firmly on the table if the government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy.”
The Union called on Nigerians and civil society groups in the country to join it to resist government plan to impost the tax on them.
“Accordingly, the TUC directs all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant, watchful and wait for further communication that may culminate in a decisive action should government dare to further ignore the collective will of the people.
“We also call on our allies, civil society organization, professional bodies, student unions, market associations, faith leaders, and all patriotic Nigerians to stand in solidarity with us in this struggle.
“Together, we must resist policies that seek to further impoverish citizens and mortgage our future,” TUC said.