The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has stated that the recent reversal of the planned 15% import duty on petrol and diesel, was due to its earlier warning of the implications of the policy.
ADC, in a statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also stated that the abandoned policy showed that the Tinubu govt is confused and merely experimenting with governance.
According to the party, the reversal proved that the government keeps announcing policies without proper analysis.
ADC recalled its Oct 31st warning that the tariff would worsen hardship caused by subsidy removal and devaluation.
While welcoming the reversal, the party noted that policy reversal has become a pattern in the current government.
ADC said this is the seventh time in two years that the Tinubu administration has announced a major decision only to withdraw it shortly after, showing poor preparation and unstable leadership.
The party said it warned on Oct 31st that the 15% levy could push petrol prices beyond N1,000 per litre, worsening the burden on families, commuters, transporters, farmers and small businesses already battling subsidy removal with no safety nets and devaluation with no safeguards.
It said it questioned why the government wanted to tax imported fuel when Nigeria still lacks adequate local refining capacity.
The party said it finds it interesting that the same reasons it highlighted earlier are exactly what the govt later used to justify reversing its own policy.
The party asked whether any real planning happens in this administration.
ADC said Tinubu is running a trial-and-error govt that jumps from one announcement to another without clear thinking or coordination.
It said Nigerians should not be used as test subjects.
ADC also criticised conflicting statements from government agencies.
“One agency claimed the tariff was only postponed, while another said it had been scrapped.”
The party said this contradiction shows a confused government working at cross purposes and lacking direction.
According to the ADC, Nigerians need clarity and stable leadership, not a govt that keeps experimenting with policies that affect millions.
The party said public office is a responsibility, not a laboratory, and that the wellbeing of citizens must come first.
ADC reaffirmed its commitment to stand with Nigerians and challenge any policy that harms their livelihood.
The party urged the Tinubu administration to think through decisions before making public announcements that later end in confusion and embarrassing reversals.
