NASU wants proposed communication tax dropped
NAN-H-73
Tax
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to stop the proposed communication tax in the country.
Mr Peters Adeyemi, National Secretary of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Nigerian workers were already paying too many taxes.
He said the country did not need a nine per cent communication tax with the present economic recession, as many workers were already over-taxed.
NAN reports that the Communications Service Tax Bill is currently before the Senate.
If seeks to compel telecommunications service subscribers, including those of satellite television providers like DSTV, among others, to pay additional tax on services rendered by the providers.
Also, services such as, voice calls, SMS, MMS, data and pay TV would all have an additional nine per cent tax imposed on them; meaning that the subscribers will pay more.
Adeyemi said the bill was unacceptable and unfair to all.
“Can somebody tell the Federal Government that we do not need this tax right now? Nigerians are going through a lot of hardship right now due to the recession.
“Why will you subject people to nine per cent tax with the current situation in the country?
“Too much taxation is right now eating deep into our resources and salaries; we do not need any double taxation during this hard time.
“What is the essence of communication tax; it is another way to milk Nigerian workers.
“We pay a lot of tax on any transaction we make in the bank presently; any transaction, either deposit or otherwise, the banks will charge us.
“Enough of all this exploitation, Nigerians cannot afford a nine per cent communication tax,” he said.
Adeyemi urged stakeholders in the ICT sector to deliberate on the issue and come up with a better position.
He also frowned at some state governments that were not paying workers’ salaries, even in the critical state of the country. (NAN)
OOG/KOLE/SOA
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Oluwole Sogunle