The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has thrown its weight behind the two chambers of National Assembly for quick passage of Communication Service Tax (CST) bill currently before the legislature.The association also expressed its unalloyed support for the passage of the proposed Unemployed Youth, Elderly and Indigent Sustainability Allowances Trust Fund bill also pending before the federal lawmakers.
In a communiqué issued at a press conference on Wednesday, the National President of the union, Comrade Tijani Shehu said that the union decided to declare its total support for the ongoing debate on the two bills, because of its belief in their provisions to alleviate the sufferings and agony of the youths and the elderly people in the society.
Shehu explained that the union came up with the decision after in-depth study, analysis, series of meetings, nationwide sensitization on the twin bills, which have passed second reading in the National Assembly.
The bills were introduced by one Mr. Raymond Wodi, entitled: A Bill for an Act for the establishment of Communication Service Tax and for
matters Connected therewith, and a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the unemployed Youth, Elderly and Indigent Citizens Sustainability Allowances Trust Fund and for matters Connected Therewith.
The Communication Service Tax Bill (SB. 164) of 2015 is a draft piece of legislation before the Nigerian Senate that seeks to levy a charge of nine percent for the use of communication services that include: Voice calls; SMS; MMS; Data usage both from Telecommunications Service Providers and Internet Service Providers; Pay per View TV Stations among others.
According to the bill, 70 per cent of the tax will be paid into the federation account, while 30 per cent of it will be paid into the unemployed youth, elderly and indigent sustainability allowances trust fund.
The NANS President, said that the union would do all within its powers to support the National Assembly to ensure that the two bills were accorded due attention and given speedy passage into law.
He argued that Nigeria has neglected the CST over the 15 years of telecom revolution, with unquantifiable loss of revenue, despite being the second largest owner of mobile phones in the world after China.
According to him, what Nigeria is currently realising from both oil and tax is far below what South Africa is getting from tax alone, adding that many companies operating in Nigeria evade tax due to the poor tax collection system in the country.
He further accused the telecommunication operators in the country of stealing trillions of naira due to the absence of statutory method of confirming the actual amount due to the government from their profits.
When passed, he said the bill would make adequate provisions for government to create job opportunities and other life lines for the youth and elderly as obtained in other climes.
He therefore urged Nigerians to ignore all those fighting against the bill for selfish interest and to further deny the youth and other citizens of their legitimate rights.
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