CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP CACOL SLAMS FG’S PROPOSED PETROL TAX AS “INSENSITIVE, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE”

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has strongly condemned the proposed five per cent tax on petrol by Federal Government, describing it as “insensitive, counterproductive, and unjustifiable.” The group warned that the levy would worsen economic hardship, fuel inflation, and increase job losses.

“Nigerians are already overwhelmed by harsh economic policies and cannot withstand another layer of financial burden,” said CACOL Chairman, Debo Adeniran. “At a time when citizens are still struggling under the weight of severe economic policies, this additional charge threatens to worsen inflation, increase job losses, and heighten public anger against the state.”

CACOL questioned the rationale behind the new charge, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s government had recently announced it had met revenue targets without borrowing from banks. “The proposed tax has no clear justification, especially considering that the Federal Government has already achieved its revenue goals. Nigerians are therefore left to question: what exactly is the rationale behind this new charge?” Adeniran asked.

The group suggested that the policy could be a deliberate attempt to suppress citizens already struggling under economic pressures. “Could this be a deliberate attempt to incapacitate the people from speaking out against their current suffering? We are already consulting, and at the appropriate time, Civil Society Organisations, Community-Based Organisations, and Faith-Based Organisations will determine how best to resist these anti-people policies.”

CACOL urged the Tinubu administration to abandon the plan and focus on economic recovery strategies. “We insist that Nigerians must not be pushed to the wall. The proposed petrol tax is unjustifiable and must be shelved immediately. The government should concentrate on policies that stimulate production, create jobs, and reduce the hardship of the people,” the group declared.