Politics

Senate stands with masses, opposes FG’s communication tax

Published

8 years ago

October 4, 2016

enate stands with masses, opposes FG's communication tax

The bill by the Federal Government which seeks to make Nigerians pay tax for communications suffered a setback on Monday.

This is as the Senate has described the proposed Communications Service Tax (CST) bill, currently before the upper chamber as anti-people, insisting that if passed, it would worsen the life of the ordinary Nigerians, especially at this period when the effects of the recession in the country is making life unbearable for many Nigerians.

The primary aim of the bill is to make provisions for certain compulsory payments from communications consumers across the country.

Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, stated this during the 2016 budget defence meeting with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

“There has been strident outcry by consumer rights groups and industry stakeholders against the Communications Service Tax Bill (CST) 2015 currently before the National Assembly. It is argued that the bill will limit access to communications as it will affect the lower income consumers, forcing them to abandon or reduce subscription to certain services.

“This committee is yet to be availed of the contents of this bill but it is important to state unequivocally here that, as the elected representatives of the Nigerian people, while we recognise the current administration’s efforts to widen its revenue base, conscious efforts must be made to ensure that the socio-economic well-being of the citizenry remains sacrosanct.

“We assure Nigerians that this committee will engage in wide consultations with all concerned stakeholders in considering this bill if it is referred to it. The committee wishes to bear in mind, some salient issues trending in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

“These are issues bordering on regulatory and operational environment in the sector, such as the statutory independence of the industry regulator and the obligations demanded from industry operators to observe and respect regulatory directives.

“While this committee will in no way support any draconian regulation by the commission, it will not also fold its arms to witness any disrespect and disregard for the directives of constituted authorities of the commission by any operator under its regulatory oversight,” he said.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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