Former Labor Party LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s government for imposing a cybersecurity levy on Nigerians.
He said the government was interested in milking the dying economy rather than nurturing it for revival and growth.
Obi accused the government of developing policies that not only impoverish citizens but also reduce the competitiveness of the country’s economic environment.
According to him, imposing a cyber security fee on Nigerians will further dilute the remaining capital left by the impact of Naira devaluation and high inflation rate.
In a post on his account on Wednesday, Xu Obi asked when the office of the National Security Advisor (NSA) became a tax collection center.
The former Anambra State governor has said it is inconceivable to expect suffering citizens of Nigeria to separately fund all government activities.
He said: “The imposition of another tax in the form of cybersecurity tax on Nigerians who are already experiencing severe economic hardship is further evidence that the government is more interested in milking a dying economy rather than nurturing it for recovery and growth.
“Not only does this amount to multiple taxation on banking transactions that are already subject to various other taxes, including stamp duty, but it negates the government’s stated commitment to reducing the number of taxes and streamlining the tax system.
“The imposition of a cybersecurity levy on banking transactions is particularly sad considering that the tax applies to the working capital of businesses and not their profits and will therefore further erode what is left of their capital from the impact of Naira devaluation and high levels of inflation.
“It is inconceivable to expect suffering Nigerian citizens to separately fund all government activities. This type of policy not only impoverishes citizens, but also makes the country’s economic environment less competitive.
“At a time when the government should be cutting taxes to curb inflation, it is instead introducing new taxes. And when did the NSA office become a tax collection center?
“And why should this office that deals exclusively with national security receive refunds for a specific tax under the new cybersecurity law?”
