By Seyi Babalola
The contentious cybersecurity fee that the Central Bank of Nigeria recently imposed has been denounced by Senator Ali Ndume, who also stated that the Federal Government cannot continue to impose levies on Nigerians without increasing their income.
The Borno South Senatorial District representative for the All Progressives Congress revealed this on Channels Television’s Politics Today Program on Friday.
Ndume emphasized that Nigerians will pay more in taxes as a result of the cybersecurity charge.
The senate leader 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 stated that, while he was one of the senators who supported the modification to the Cybersecurity Act, it was unfortunate that he did not see the section that imposed a tax 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 is an issue where a cost would be transferred to a customer or a Nigerian, I would not agree,” he said.
Ndume said the lawmakers alone should not take the blame for the Act, saying that where some things escape the notice of the lawmakers, civil society organisations and the labour unions are supposed to point out grey areas during public hearing.
