‘NIGERIANS TALK MORE THAN IT’S REQUIRED, THERE’S NO HARM IN INTRODUCING COMMUNICATION TAX’ FIRS BOSS, FOWLER
Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Babatunde Fowler, has said that there is no harm in introducing a communication tax.
Fowler who stated this on Monday in an interview with TheCable said, “I will put it this way, Nigerians talk a lot on the phone; they even talk more than is required so for them to have capacity or revenue to talk that much, I don’t see any harm in paying a little bit more to government”.
“We compare ourselves to developing countries but Ghana introduced a 2% education tax and used it to fund their universities and that is why Nigerians are now going to university in Ghana. They didn’t look for aid, they did it by themselves.”
The lawmakers are also proposing a 9% charge for using telecommunication services in place of a 2.2% proposed increase in value-added tax being proposed by the federal executive council (FEC).
“By the VAT Act, the minister has the right to change the rate but this government, I believe wants to carry every stakeholder along including those in the house and explain to them that this increase is for the benefit of all Nigerians. And it will only apply to what I call privileged items like buying a car or lunch in an expensive restaurant. The money will help the state look after the needy among us,” he said.
The federal government is making efforts to shore up revenue and improve the country’s fiscal health.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in his Independence Day speech said revenue-generating agencies that do not meet targets will be sanctioned.
More Stories
2024 UTME: 10 STUDENTS OF GOLD SPRING HIGH SCHOOL, RIVERS STATE SCORE ABOVE 310
Ten students of Gold Springs High School students, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who sat for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination between...
POLICE ARREST 40 SUSPECTS IN YABA
On Tuesday night, 40 suspected criminals were taken into custody by Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) agents in several Yaba...
WHY I WROTE UTME AGAIN, UNIZIK’s BEST-GRADUATING STUDENT REVEALS
Juliet Chidiebube Uka, a recent graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, scored 324 in the recently completed...
COSTAL HIGHWAY: LANDMARK BEACH MANAGEMENT REFUNDS CUSTOMERS AFTER DEMOLITION
Customers affected by the Federal Government's recent demolition of some of Landmark Resort Beach's properties can now begin the refund...
PROTESTERS CALL EFCC TO REOPEN MATAWALLE’S PROBE
Dozens of protesters from Zamfara State have occupied the entrance to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes...
(PHOTOS): NIGERIAN PASTOR ORDERS BRIDE TO REMOVE EYELASHES AT WEDDING
A Nigerian bride detailed how her pastor told her to remove her eyelashes during her church wedding. The bride, Jessica Okah, revealed...