TUC Warns FG Against 15% Fuel Import Duty

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘TUC Half Hour’ monitored by our correspondent, Osifo disclosed that the union is currently studying the policy and consulting with stakeholders to understand its full implications.

The union leader raised concerns that while the government argues that the duty would protect local refining capacity, its immediate impact could be a sharp increase in pump prices since Nigeria still imports a large volume of its PMS.

“The first impression was a no, no, no. Why are we imposing tax when our refineries are not producing?” he asked. “The Dangote Refinery operates within a free trade zone, which means it already enjoys import duty waivers. So, if this 15 per cent duty applies to importers, they will simply transfer the cost to consumers; that’s the reality.”

The TUC boss called for clarity from the government on the scope and boundaries of the tax, questioning whether it would apply solely to importers of petrol from abroad or also to those operating within Nigeria’s free trade zones.

He argued that without clear guidelines, the policy could create confusion and ultimately burden ordinary Nigerians at the pump. The TUC president also stressed that labour and industry stakeholders must be properly consulted before such a decision takes effect.