TUC Don Vex, Reject 15% Fuel Import Duty

TUC President, Festus Osifo, don warn say di Federal Government plan to impose 15 per cent import duty on petrol (PMS) fit make life hard pass for Nigerians as fuel prices and inflation don already high. Osifo yarn for Channels TV “TUC Half Hour” say di union dey study di policy and dey consult stakeholders to sabi wetin e go mean. E talk say government claim say di duty go protect local refineries, but for now e fit push pump price high because Nigeria still dey import plenty petrol. “Di first impression na no, no, no. Why we go dey tax petrol when our refineries no dey produce? Dangote Refinery dey free trade zone, e don dey enjoy import duty waiver. If 15 per cent duty touch importers, dem go pass cost go consumers; na reality be dat,” Osifo talk.

Di TUC boss also ask government make e clear if di tax go touch only petrol wey dem dey bring from abroad or even di ones wey dey free trade zones. E talk say without clear guideline, confusion go happen and ordinary Nigerians go suffer for pump. Osifo add say TUC and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria go give “defined and informed” position after dem don check policy well. Government don approve di duty October 21, 2025, say FIRS and NMDPRA go enforce am quick quick. Official projection talk say 15 per cent import duty fit increase landing cost by N99.72 per litre, wey fit push Lagos pump price go N964.72 per litre, still lower than some regional averages. Di government say di policy na to make Dangote Refinery and modular plants for Edo, Rivers, and Imo produce more, reduce import wey still dey 67% of demand. Industry experts warn say if no relief measures dey, di duty fit make households suffer more because subsidy don already comot and inflation high.