Senator Ali Ndume has faulted the controversial cybersecurity levy recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, saying that the Federal Government cannot continue to impose levies on Nigerians without increasing their income.
This was disclosed by Senator Ndume during a live appearance on Channels Television on Friday.
Ndume emphasized the introduction of the cybersecurity levy will increase the tax burden on Nigerians.
Senator Ndume said, “You cannot be loading taxes on people when you are not increasing their income. Their source of income, you are not widening it, you are not increasing it. I am not part of those that support levying people anyhow.”
The lawmaker said despite the fact he supported the amendment of the Cybersecurity Act, it is unfortunate that he never envisaged or spotted the part that would place such a burden on Nigerians.
“The amendment to the Cybersecurity Act, I supported it but not the nitty-gritty and I am not trying to run away from any blame. We have issues with cybercrime you know that, and there is a need for the government to improve the Cybercrime Act, that is what I understand by the amendment.
“Looking at the nitty-gritty would have been the responsibility of interested parties. If I had known there was an issue where a cost would be transferred to a customer or a Nigerian, I would not agree,” he said.
However, Ndume said the lawmakers alone should not take the blame for the Act, saying several things were not put into consideration by the lawmakers, adding the civil society organisations and the labour unions were supposed to have pointed out during the public hearing.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, in a circular dated 6 May, directed all Deposit Money Banks, Mobile Money Operators, and Payment Service Providers to start deducting a 0.5% Cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions of customers.
The Cybersecurity levy has generated so much controversy among civil society and labour unions in the country.
The Northern Elders Forum had also rejected it and asked for the immediate withdrawal of the policy by the federal government.
