The Federal Inland Revenue Service opposes the idea of imposing extra taxes and charges on business owners to finance the Child Online Access Protection Bill.
Mathew Osanekwu, representing FIRS Chairman Mr Zacch Adedeji, made these statements while appearing before the House Committee on Justice in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee convened a public hearing to discuss the Child Online Access Protection Bill 2023, which encompasses issues related to online violence against Nigerian children and other related matters.
Mr Adedeji proposed that instead of imposing additional taxation to finance the bill’s enactment, FIRS, which already has assigned targets, suggested funding it through appropriations.
“The impression we have is that the funding will be through a levy. We already have eight different levies, and I advised that the funding should come by way of appropriation,” stated the FIRS boss.
He added that this became necessary since FIRS was charged with collecting revenue for the government.
Speaking in support of the bill, he said, “Our position is that FIRS fully supports the bill, and its intention is a great initiative. We have to adopt global best practices; we observed that funding to make it happen is also in the bill, and in this, we have raised issues.”
Abang Abua, a deputy director and representative of the Nigeria Communication Commission CEO, Aminu Maida, said the commission was concerned about the method of funding through taxation.
“We are concerned about tax because our operators are already inundated with taxes,” he said.
Pwadumoi Okoh, Deputy Director at the National Human Rights Commission, representing the chairman, expressed that the bill signifies a proactive measure to safeguard children’s rights.
However, she noted some flaws in the bill and submitted suggestions to the House for consideration.
Olumide Osoba, chairman of the House Committee on Justice, described the bill as straightforward, stating its purpose to ensure that service providers protect the Internet for children.
He assured that the House is committed to enacting the law and that stakeholder engagement will refine the bill before its final approval.
Then further stated that the Ministry of Communication and the NCC will oversee the bill’s implementation without imposing any additional levies on individuals.
