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The Obidient Movement Nigeria has strongly condemned the proposed 5% surcharge on petroleum products announced by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, describing it as “a policy built on noble intentions, but destined for misery.”
In a statement signed by Dr. Yunusa Tanko Media Team and released on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the movement declared that the new surcharge would “punish the poor, deepen inequality, and fuel corruption rather than fund meaningful development.”
The group said it was compelled to respond to what it called yet another attempt by the Tinubu administration to “squeeze blood from a dry stone” while ignoring genuine reforms that could strengthen the nation’s economy.
According to the statement, “We are told that this surcharge will fund road infrastructure, align Nigeria with ‘global best practices,’ and ultimately deliver safer roads and reduced logistics costs. These claims, however, stand on shaky ground when placed against Nigeria’s harsh realities.
“For decades, Nigerians have been fed the same promises: new levies will ‘fix our roads,’ ‘power our hospitals,’ and ‘transform our economy.’ Instead, trillions vanish into the pockets of corrupt elites while our highways crumble, transport costs skyrocket, and ordinary Nigerians are pushed deeper into poverty.”
The movement emphasized that fuel is a lifeline for millions of Nigerians and taxing it directly targets the most vulnerable. “Fuel is not a luxury. It powers transportation, agriculture, and small businesses; the lifeline of millions of Nigerians. Taxing fuel is regressive; it extracts most from those who have the least,” the statement noted.
It further argued that the proposed surcharge cannot be trusted to serve the public good because of Nigeria’s entrenched corruption. “Nigeria loses billions yearly to contract fraud and inflated projects. With our nation ranked 140 out of 180 in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perception Index, how can citizens believe this new tax will build roads rather than bankroll corruption?” the movement queried.
The Obidient Movement also highlighted the unbearable economic climate that Nigerians already face, insisting that the policy is both “heartless and reckless.” The group warned, “With inflation at record highs, transport and food costs crippling families, and wages stagnant, the timing of this surcharge is both heartless and reckless. You cannot tax a hungry man into prosperity.”
Taking a broader view, the statement framed the 5% surcharge as part of what it called “a broken tax reform agenda” under the Tinubu administration. “This is not only about a 5% fuel surcharge. It is about a government that seeks to squeeze blood from a dry stone while refusing to reform itself,” the movement said.
As an alternative, the Obidient Movement urged the government to embrace genuine reform measures, including expanding the tax base to capture the vast informal economy and luxury sectors, introducing progressive taxes on wealth and elite consumption, creating ring-fenced funds with citizen oversight to ensure traceability of every Naira, and cutting wasteful government spending while ending the culture of excessive perks for political office holders.
The movement’s position was unequivocal: “The Obidient Movement Nigeria insists that no new fuel taxes should be imposed until there are credible, transparent mechanisms to ensure accountability, anti-corruption safeguards, and real relief for suffering citizens. We demand that government earn the trust of the people first by demonstrating visible improvements in governance and infrastructure before introducing more levies. Anything less is exploitation disguised as reform.”
Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the group stressed that it supports infrastructure development but not at the expense of citizens who are already impoverished. “We want good roads, reliable infrastructure, and a strong economy. But these goals cannot and must not be pursued on the backs of already impoverished Nigerians. Until transparency, equity, and fairness guide our fiscal policies, we reject this 5% surcharge as yet another instrument of oppression against the people,” the statement concluded.
The fiery reaction from the Obidient Movement adds to the growing wave of criticism against the Tinubu administration’s fiscal policy direction, raising concerns that the proposed fuel tax may further inflame public discontent in a country already struggling with economic hardship.
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