TUC Urges FG to Withdraw 5% Petroleum Tax

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The federal government has been advised to quickly withdraw the implementation of the 5 per cent tax on petroleum products in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act signed by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025.

In a statement on Monday by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the 5 per cent petroleum tax was described as “anti-people’s plan” introduced by the government “to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.”

In the statement signed by the president and general secretary of the TUC, Mr Festus Osifo and Mr Nuhu Toro, respectively, it was stressed that failure to cancel this policy would lead to a nationwide mass action.

“Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira.

“To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.

“[The] 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 mobilise 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.

“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 organisations, 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.

“Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not endless punishment,” the labour union said in the statement.

The five per cent surcharge on petrol and diesel sales does not affect clean fuel like the compressed natural gas (CNG), cooking gas and kerosene.