Too much taxes inflicting pains on Nigerians, group tells FG
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy has condemned the incessant taxes and levies the Federal Government imposes on Nigerians.
The group said citizens are going through severe pains occasioned by the FG-imposed taxes.
Chairman of COPDEM, Prince Rwang Pam, stated this while addressing newsmen during the group’s convention and ICONS Democracy Awards ceremony, held in Abuja over the weekend.
Rwang, who bemoaned the hardship faced by the middle class and poor Nigerians, appealed to the president to consider the interest of the masses in whatever policy he’s implementing in the country.
He noted that introducing new taxes and levies weekly at a time when many Nigerians are struggling to put food on their tables is not in the country’s best interest.
He said, “The poor Nigerians have not eaten; their money is in the bank, and you are taxing them. Please pity these poor people. Why must they bring the tax at this time? does it have to be introduced at this time?
“Normally, tax should be paid out of profit. That is tax. You cannot tax anybody who has not made a profit. Why are you taxing the small thing (transaction) he is passing through in the bank? You are bringing up cybersecurity. It is your duty to do so, but why are you passing the burden to the ordinary man on the street?
“We have not finished facing petroleum and now we are facing cybersecurity. Let them tax the millionaires and billionaires they will not feel it but the woman selling egusi who has to use the POS why do you have to tax her it doesn’t make sense. For me it’s crabby”.
He also urged the administration to implement policies beneficial to Nigerians and not just act busy churning out papers at the National Assembly without any action on ground.
“People are tired of hearing it is better. The dollar has gone up and gone down. They want to see it in terms of garri and cocoa; they want to see in terms of rice and beans on the street. Once it gets to that level then we can say the administration is working. If it has not gotten there, then you have not started anything.”
He said it was long overdue for the present federal administration to bring smiles on the faces of the Nigerian citizens, given the promises made by the president upon assumption of office.
According to Rwang,if it is going to take the government two more years to fix the current hardship being faced by Nigerians, then it is not impressive.
Recall that on Monday, May 6, the Central Bank of Nigeria directed financial institutions to implement the cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions.
The apex bank had claimed that the 0.5 percent levy is contained in section 44 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.
Also, during President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration, he announced the removal of the fuel subsidy on petrol, which led to the rise in transportation and commodity prices.
This increased hardship in the country.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, also approved a 300 percent hike in electricity tariff from N68 to N225 per kilowatt-hour. This increment is for urban consumers, also known as Band A consumers in the country.
Likewise, the country’s inflation and the rate and speed at which the naira has weakened against the dollar have caused untold hardships for Nigerians.
