The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government goes ahead with its planned five per cent tax on petroleum products.
In a press statement issued in Lagos on Monday, TUC said it outrightly rejects the proposal, describing it as an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.
The Federal Government recently introduced a five per cent surcharge on petrol and diesel sales, a measure that has sparked debate among citizens, businesses, and policy analysts.
The levy is part of the newly signed Nigeria Tax Administration Act, one of four tax reform bills signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025.
The regulation requires that the surcharge be applied to every supply or sale of refined fossil fuel products in Nigeria, whether locally produced or imported, with the money collected at the point of sale. Cleaner fuels such as renewables, household kerosene, cooking gas and compressed natural gas are exempt.
TUC’s national president, Festus Osifo, and its Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, said Nigerian workers already reeling from the removal of fuel subsidy must not be subjected to further “pains” from the new tax rule.
“Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira.
“To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.
“Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments. Instead of offering relief, jobs, and solutions, it has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry. This is unacceptable!”
The union warned that a nationwide strike was imminent if the government pressed ahead with the tax.
“The TUC hereby urge the Federal Government to immediately stop this anti-people’s plan in its entirety. Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to mobilise Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance. Strike action is firmly on the table if the government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy.
“Accordingly, the TUC directs all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain vigilant, watchful and wait for further communication that may culminate in a decisive action should government dare to further ignore the collective will of the people.”