The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed its strong backing for Federal Government's proposed 15% fuel import tariff, saying the move will enhance local production of the commodity.
Critics, particularly some of the independent oil marketers have faulted the move, arguing it will lead to an increase in the landing cost of the product,
But NECA Director General, Wale Smatt Oyerinde, believes the policy is a step in the right direction while featuring Channels Television’s programme "Sunrise Daily" monitored by Edu-biznews on Friday
“We support the policy of a 15% tariff on imported petroleum products — not on locally produced ones,” Oyerinde said .
“If the 15% tariff is the ‘punishment’ we must bear collectively for our recklessness in allowing our four refineries to collapse, then so be it.”
“Even developed nations like the U.S. are introducing protectionist policies to protect their local industries. We don’t have much excuse not to do the same,” the NECA boss said on the breakfast show.
The Federal Government had approved the 15 percent tariff increase in a letter sent to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, mandating its enforcement.
According to him, similar actions should be extended to other areas.
“The president gave approval about two weeks ago, and the OPS has done its analysis. We’re also looking beyond petrol and diesel.
“To ramp up production in the manufacturing and real sectors, this kind of policy should extend there too. Why do we import things we can produce locally? It affects forex and other aspects of the economy,” Oyerinde said.
“We’ve said that everything we can produce locally should attract import duties — provided we have made sufficient arrangements for local production to meet our needs. If we have to give businesses a one- or two-year moratorium to integrate backward, then fine — but let’s reduce the tendency to import", NECA Boss stated
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