Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has faulted the Federal Government’s proposed Cybersecurity levy.
Ndume said Nigerians can’t be levied when their income does not increase.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said the proposed Cyber security levy would increase the tax burden of Nigerians.
“You cannot be charging 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 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.
This is as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) slammed the opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly over its perceived quietness on the controversial cybersecurity levy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directed the deduction of the levy to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
On May 6, the apex bank directed banks and other financial institutions to implement a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers.
Cyber-security levy: You can’t tax Nigerians without increasing income – Ndume tackles Tinubu govt
