The African Democratic Congress has accused President Tinubu of running a government of trial and error adding that the Federal Government’s suspension of its controversial 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel came after the party issued a warning.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The opposition party in the statement, recalled that it had, on October 31, cautioned the government that imposing a fresh tariff on imported fuel would deepen the hardship caused by subsidy removal, currency depreciation and surging living costs.

The statement read; “As we noted in our statement reacting to the planned tariff, the ‘new levy is likely to push the pump price of petrol beyond N1,000 per litre.

“If this happens, life would become even more unbearable for families, commuters, transporters, farmers, and small businesses already struggling under the weight of fuel subsidy removal without social protection and currency devaluation without safeguards.”

The party said it had also queried why the government would contemplate taxing imported fuel “without first ensuring local capacity for production,” adding that it was “quite interesting” that these were the same reasons the administration later cited for backing down.

“What has become clear, however, is that President Tinubu is running a government of trial and error that is merely experimenting and bumbling through,” the statement noted.

The secretary further accused federal agencies of singing discordant tunes.

He further highlighted that while one claimed the policy was only postponed, another declared it no longer in view, which according to him, shows a government that is confused, unsure, and dangerously working at cross purposes.

Abdullahi was referring to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority which confirmed the suspension on Thursday through its Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita.

The ADC urged Tinubu’s government to “realise that public office is a responsibility, not a laboratory, as it vowed to continue speaking against policies that threaten citizens’ welfare.

NEWSMAXNG reported that Tinubu suspended the 15 per cent ad-valorem duty on petrol and diesel few days after he introduced it to align fuel import costs with domestic market realities and encourage local refining.

The confirmed the suspension on Thursday.

Its Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita, said the levy was “no longer in view and not implementable at this time,” adding that the decision had presidential approval.