Consumers Kick Against ICT Tax

The Bill on imposition of
a new tax regime on telecommunication industry before National Assembly has met with stiff opposition from consumers.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt, a number of consumers  in the State, said such  bill was capable of crippling the industry  and reduce chances of new entrants into the telecommunications  industry while cost of businesses will skyrocket as well as make communication not affordable by all.
Speaking, Mr. Jacob Atamuno, a dealer  in telephones, based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said  it is a bad move to impose further taxes on telecoms saying it would put a high premium on the use of telephones to low income earners thereby making it not affordable  due to the increment.
He added that millions of Nigerians will not be able to afford  a basis broadband  connection and would deny them access to the internet. Ike Maduemene, a Mass Communication student of the Rives State University of Science and Technology, warned that it would create  hardship in the country as it would put a heavy  burden  on parents who are already containing with high cost of living that has gone up, and now beyond the reach of many  Nigerians.
Also Ben Opara a staff of the service providers said the time to impose new taxes is not now, a new tax on telecoms would only serve to widen  the gap between   affordability and availability and will add to the burden  of the subscribers.
For Grace Kenneth, a staff of telecoms  service provider, says, “this would put our jobs on the line as we are already paying monies to USPF, ITF, TET-FUND among others, further taxation would just cripple the business and it would  result in job cuts and  retrenchment as recently done by some banks.
Okorodudu Amos, simply said “it will just  scare new investors away from the  country and the sector.

Tonye Nria-Dappa