Telecom Operators Decry Multiple Taxation

By Oduyemi Odumade

The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), says the industry is faced with multiple regulations that usually led to multiple taxation.

The president of the association, Mr Tony Emekpe, stated this when he led the executive members of the association on a courtesy visit to the house of Representatives committee on telecommunication.

These taxes he said, impact negatively on their businesses and money earmarked for network expansion.

“As technology advance, you need to continuously expand and upgrade your network, hence the complex needs of the telecom industry is never ceasing. We keep on investing and investing.
When you invest certain amount of funds in the sector, even within that community, there is increase in business and more IGR is generated.

“But if you stifle our ability to invest our end profits by taxation, you are actually impeding our ability even to increase IGR in this situation.

Mr Emekpe urged the committee to drive a strategic agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, on behalf of the sector, to bridge the infrastructure funding gap by providing accessible low-cost intervention funds for rapid development of mobile infrastructure nationwide.

According to him, there is the need to have a marginal increase in tariffs, as according to him telecom operators in the country are operating on old tariffs.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Telecommunication, Mr Peter Akpatason, said they would set-up a subcommittee to work together with the executives of the association to identity the challenges facing the sector, especially the local content issue.

Mr Akpatason added that a colloquium would come up before the end of this year, which would be broader in perspective to put heads together and bring in experts on topical Issues affecting the telecom sector.

Edited By Grace Namiji