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| Cybersecurity Levy Debate: Ndume Argues Against Taxing Nigerians Without Income Increase |
Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today, Ndume expressed concerns that the proposed cybersecurity levy would add to the tax burden of Nigerians.
Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has criticized the Federal Government's proposed cybersecurity levy, stating that it's unfair to tax Nigerians without increasing their incomes.
Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today, Ndume expressed concerns that the proposed cybersecurity levy would add to the tax burden of Nigerians.
"It's not justifiable to impose taxes on people without enhancing their income. You're not expanding their income sources or increasing them. I don't endorse arbitrary levying of people," he remarked.
Ndume supported the amendment to the Cybersecurity Act in principle but not in detail, clarifying that he doesn't want to evade responsibility.
"The government needs to refine the Cybercrime Act to address our cybercrime issues—that's my understanding of the amendment," he said.
He added, "The specifics should have been examined by those directly affected. Had I been aware of any provision transferring costs to customers or Nigerians, I wouldn't have consented."
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has criticized opposition lawmakers for their silence on the contentious cybersecurity levy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed that the levy be collected and contributed to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
On May 6, the CBN mandated banks and other financial institutions to apply a 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions.
