By Jabiru Hassan
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has strongly condemned the proposed 5 percent tax on petrol by the Federal Government, warning that the move could further deepen the hardship faced by Nigerians.
In a statement signed by its Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo, on behalf of the Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, the group described the policy as insensitive and counterproductive. It said the plan, if implemented, would worsen inflation, trigger job losses, and fuel public resentment against the government.
CACOL noted that citizens have endured severe economic pressures for nearly three years while hoping that government reforms would bring relief. However, it stressed that these expectations remain unmet.
The group questioned the rationale for the new tax, especially as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently disclosed that the government had already met its revenue targets since August without resorting to borrowing.
“If the aim is to raise more revenue, then it contradicts government’s claims of financial stability. If it is to cut petrol consumption, it will cripple businesses, heighten unemployment, and damage the economy,” the statement said.
CACOL further warned that the move could be seen as an attempt to silence Nigerians by increasing their burden to the point of frustration. It revealed that civil society groups, community-based organizations, and faith-based bodies are already consulting on possible steps to resist what it described as “anti-people policies.”
“We insist that Nigerians must not be pushed to the wall. The proposed petrol tax is unjustifiable, unfair, and unacceptable,” the group declared.
Instead, CACOL urged the Federal Government to abandon the plan and focus on policies that promote production, create jobs, and reduce the hardship of ordinary citizens.
