The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw its proposed 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel, saying the development reinforces its position that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is running a “trial-and-error” government.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party recalled its earlier warning dated October 31, 2025, cautioning the Federal Government that the planned tariff would worsen the hardship already created by subsidy removal, currency devaluation, and rising living costs.
While acknowledging that the administration acted on the concerns raised by the opposition, the ADC stressed that public policies should be carefully evaluated before being announced and later reversed.
The party noted that this marks the seventh time in two years that the Federal Government has rolled back a major announcement, describing the recurring reversals as a sign of weak planning and inconsistent policymaking.
The ADC warned that implementing the new levy would have pushed petrol prices beyond N1,000 per litre—further straining families, transporters, farmers, commuters, and small businesses still reeling from the impact of subsidy removal and a weakened naira.
“We also queried why the government was contemplating taxing imported fuel without first ensuring local production capacity,” the party said.
The ADC added that the same reasons it highlighted earlier were now being cited by the government as justification for the policy reversal, raising questions about the administration’s level of preparedness.
“What has become clear is that President Tinubu is running a government of trial and error—one that is merely experimenting and bumbling through,” the statement read.
The party also expressed concern over conflicting explanations from different government agencies, noting that while one claimed the tariff was only postponed, another insisted the proposal was no longer under consideration.
“This shows a government that is confused, unsure, and working dangerously at cross purposes. Nigerians deserve better,” it added.
The ADC urged the Federal Government to understand that public office is a responsibility, not an experiment, and reaffirmed its commitment to speaking out against policies that threaten the wellbeing of citizens.