The Federal Government has clarified that there are no immediate plans to implement the 5% fuel surcharge, despite its inclusion in the new tax laws.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, explained that the surcharge, which was introduced in 2007, won’t take effect automatically with the new tax laws.
Instead, it requires a formal order from the Minister of Finance, published in the Official Gazette, to commence.
Oyedele emphasized that the surcharge aims to generate a dedicated fund for Nigeria’s deteriorating roads, not to add extra strain on households.
The government has assured Nigerians that the reform initiatives will yield results and has urged citizens to be patient.
This development comes after the Trade Union Congress threatened to strike over the proposed surcharge, which Oyedele believes is unwarranted since the tax hasn’t been imposed yet.
