Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, don talk say Federal Government no get any immediate plan to implement di controversial 5% fuel surcharge wey dey inside di newly signed Tax Administration Act, 2025. He make this statement during press briefing for Abuja, as tension dey rise among Nigerians wey fear say fuel price fit go up again.

Edun explain say di fuel surcharge no be new tax wey Tinubu administration create. Instead, e be old provision wey first enter law under di Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act back in 2007. He talk say di inclusion of di surcharge inside di 2025 Act na just to harmonize existing laws, and e no mean say government don ready to start collecting am immediately.

Di Minister stress say before any surcharge go begin, e must pass through formal process, including official gazette and commencement order. “As of today, no order don issue, none dey prepared, and no plan dey,” Edun talk. He assure Nigerians say government dey aware of di economic pressure wey people dey face and no go add more burden without proper consideration.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, defend di fuel surcharge idea, say e dey meant to raise money for road maintenance across Nigeria. He talk say better road infrastructure fit reduce cost of transporting goods and people, which go help fight inflation in di long run. But he also admit say public concern over inflation dey valid.

Labour unions and civil society groups don already threaten protest if government go ahead with di tax. But Edun say di broader goal of di tax reform na to improve transparency, block revenue leakages, and modernize Nigeria tax system. For now, Nigerians fit breathe small relief as implementation of di 5% fuel tax no dey on di table yet.