9% tax on the access to the internet in Nigeria is a joke taken too far —Duke

Efio-ita Nyok|5 September 2016

The news making the rounds has it that the Federal Government is embarking on a 9% tax deduction on data, SMS and credit subscription from Nigerians. This policy seem not have gone down well with a cross section of Nigerians especially Cross Riverians.

In a 2nd September Facebook post titled: ADDING ANOTHER 9% TAX ON THE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IN NIGERIA…IS A JOKE TAKEN TOO FAR, a former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the incumbent Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Rt Hon(Chief) Orok Otu Duke has contended that that intended policy isn't a product of a sanely thinking public officer. For Duke, while other governments are making assess to the internet free why should Nigeria be considering imposing tax on that assess. He state sports boss holds the opinion that such intended policy retains the potential to compound our current literacy challenge.

In his own words, 'Someone in Buhari's Government is going mad. How can any sane person advise the President to add 9% tax to Access to Internet?'

'Books are so exorbitant…and beyond the reach of the youths and students. Using this method to deny Nigerians access to content on the Internet, will further compound our collective Literacy problems', Duke further highlighted.

'Please the Bill to Tax the Internet more….(when some countries are even making Internet Free and Compulsory), should be discarded', Duke advised.

Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)