– Says 5% Petrol Tax Cruel and Insensitive
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deceiving Nigerians with false revenue claims, citing a N21.22 trillion shortfall between the 2025 budget projection and actual collections, despite the government’s claim of meeting revenue targets. The party also condemned the new 5% petrol tax and the 300% hike in passport fees, calling them cruel policies that punish struggling Nigerians and push more people into poverty, while the government celebrates revenue collection. The statement, signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, questioned why the government continues to borrow despite its claims of record revenue.
The full statement read:
The African Democratic Congress challenges the self-congratulatory claims by President Tinubu regarding the so-called record-breaking revenue growth. While President Tinubu and his government parade statistics and issue grand statements, the reality on the streets tells a story of hardship and suffering across the country.
Nigerians will recall that when the 2025 budget was passed, it projected a total revenue of N41.81 trillion. Yet today, the Federal Government is celebrating the mobilization of N20.59 trillion, leaving a gaping shortfall of N21.22 trillion. Put in perspective, this would mean an average revenue of N3.48 trillion per month, totaling N27.87 trillion for the first eight months of the year. Is the government then claiming to have surpassed N27.87 trillion, or, even more incredulously, the full N41.81 trillion projection already? These figures simply do not add up.
Even more troubling is the fact that not all the revenue in question flows to the Federal Government. The Federal Government only receives 52.68% of statutory revenue, while its share of VAT is just 15%. So, even by the most optimistic assumptions, the numbers being paraded are unrealistic. When measured on a pro-rata basis for January to August or against the full-year target, the shortfall becomes even more glaring. This exposes the hollowness of the claims by government and also reveals these so-called revenue achievements for what they truly are, another act in the APC and President Tinubu’s propaganda performance.
