15% fuel import duty will hurt Nigerians, says TUC

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The President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, has warned that the Federal Government’s proposed 15 per cent import duty on Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol could further worsen the living conditions of Nigerians.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘TUC Half Hour’ monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, Osifo said 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 about 70 per cent of its PMS needs.

“The first impression was a no, no, no. Why are we imposing tax when our refineries are not producing?” he asked. Punch