The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the increase in the price of petrol from N123 to N143.80 per litre.
In a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the increase as a punishment to Nigerians given the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
“The party described the hike, despite the decline in the price of crude oil in the international market, as grossly unjustifiable and further exposes the insincerity of the APC and its administration,” the party said.
It added, “The PDP notes that in directing a fuel price increase at the time Nigerians are facing the economic and social trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration shows a total lack of human feelings to the plights of our citizens.
“Our party challenges the APC-led Federal Government to present to Nigerians, the indices and parameters it used to determine the price increase, which obviously cannot be in tandem with the prevalent situation in the global industry.”
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The party claimed that the actions of the APC administration have confirmed that it has never been pro-poor but only relished in imposing hardship and heavy taxes on already impoverished Nigerians.
It also accused the administration of running an over-bloated government through which resources meant for the welfare of Nigerians were frittered by corrupt officials.
“Under the APC, Nigerians have been subjected to untold hardship, which is worsened by excruciating taxes, including a 7.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential commodities and services, increased electricity tariff, obnoxious Stamp Duty and other levies on bank transactions.
“It is shocking that the APC government has continued to impose more burdens that have made life unbearable to our citizens, many of whom have lost their means of livelihood due to the misrule of the APC,” the statement said.
According to the PDP, the present administration has turned Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world and is worsening the situation with an increase in fuel price rather than seeking ways to stimulate the economy.
It, therefore, advised the Presidency to save resources by immediately cutting the size of its government and recover the purported over N14 trillion stolen oil money.
The PDP also asked the government to immediately reverse the pump price of fuel to a price not exceeding N90 per litre, given the templates in the price of crude oil in the international market.
