Obidients Warn Tinubu against Proposed 5% Fuel Surcharge, “Nigerians Are Pushed Deeper into Poverty”
- The Obidient Movement has reacted to the proposed five percent surcharge on fuel by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government
- The supporters of the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, warned Tinubu's administration against the policy
- The national coordinator of the group, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, highlighted the danger of such a policy to the average Nigerian
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
FCT, Abuja - The Obidient Movement said the proposed five percent surcharge on fuel would further impoverish Nigerians already reeling under economic hardship.
The group, popular for its support for the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, described the plan as “a policy built on noble intentions, but destined for misery.”
Source: Facebook
The national coordinator of the group, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, warned the Presidnet Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government against introducing the policy.
As reported by The Punch, the group gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Tanko warned that the move would punish the poor and vulnerable, as fuel is not a luxury in Nigeria.
“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 group called on Tinubu’s government to instead expand the tax base, impose progressive taxes on luxury consumption, and cut wasteful spending.
“The Obidient Movement 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 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,”
Source: Facebook
TUC Issues 14-day ultimatum over 5% fuel tax
Recall that TUC rejected FG’s proposed 5% tax on petroleum products, calling it an “act of economic wickedness” against already overburdened Nigerians.
The union gave the government 14 days to withdraw the proposal or face a nationwide shutdown, saying the levy would worsen poverty and cripple businesses.
TUC vowed to mobilise affiliates, civil society, and citizens for resistance, insisting Nigerians deserve relief and economic justice, not further hardship.
Read more stories on Tinubu's tax reform:
- FG Clarifies 5% Fuel Surcharge Impact on Cooking Gas, Kerosene and CNG
- Tinubu’s 5% Fuel Surcharge Sparks Outrage, Nigerians to Pay N45 Per Litre Extra on Petrol
- 2026 Reforms: Tinubu Urges Nigerians To Use New Tax Calculator, “It Shows Clearly”
Myths, facts about 5% fossil fuel tax
In a similar story, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian government’s proposed 5% fuel surcharge triggered a lot of reactions from Nigerians.
Read also
Shettima speaks on Tinubu's decision to remove fuel subsidy, restructure tax system, others
Many citizens see the tax as another burden on their already depleted household income.
However, a tax expert, Aderonke Atoyebi, debunked some of the myths surrounding the controversial tax.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
