Tax & Levy Amended Order 2015 frustrating ease of doing business, ALTON tells FG
The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has raised an issue of urgent industry importance, saying the time has come for the Federal Government to look into the issue of Tax and Levy Amended Order 2015 hurriedly signed by the former Minister of Finance in the last administration, Mrs. Ngozi Okonji-Iwaela.
In the wisdom of the group, “This order has created lot of confusion in the taxes and levies regime and making the environment hash for business, not minding the Government Ease of Doing Business programme.
“The issue of EIA Demand Notices by some States has led to sealing of many telecommunication Sites thereby causing issue of quality of service, which many times beyond the control of operators.
ALTON’s appeal was contained in a letter written to the Federal Ministry of Environment seeking clarification on whose right it is to issue Demand Notices on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It is the Federal Ministry of Environment/National (FME), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) or the State Ministries of Environment?
In a statement signed by the Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON members say they are confused that after obtaining EIA from the Federal Ministry of Environment through NESREA in collaboration with each State Ministry of Environment, “The States are now coming to demand for another process directly from our members, and this to our understanding, amounted to multiple taxation and charges”.
“The telecoms industry is being over burden with taxes and levies and we may be forced to call for review of tariffs. Tax is regarded as the oxygen to development but if oxygen is too much, it could lead to disaster. Our members are responsible corporate citizens of the country and natural partners in progress that follows due processes,” ALTON said.
“Accordingly, members have directed the industry body (ALTON) to make clarification on the following issues at stake;
1. That the Federal Ministry of Environment has ceded the EIA oversight functions to some States Ministry of Environment to issue EIA Certification to our members.
2. That some States Ministry of Environment as the case may be can conduct EIA process to our members without recourse to the Federal Ministry of Environment and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
3. That the Statutory responsibility on environmental issues of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) has been transferred to the States Government.
4. That the States now have power to collect ecological fund from private sector after payment has been made to them by the Federal Government.
“We kindly request from the Federal Ministry of Environment to clarify these positions, so to guide us in our dealing with the situation and to advise our members accordingly
Continuing, the telecoms group further called on the government to declare telecommunication infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure as stated in the Cybercrime Act 2015 forbids any State or agency from tampering with any telecoms infrastructure.
