The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), has given telecommunication companies owing tax debt up till July to pay up their debt.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Umar Danbatta disclosed this when the Association of Telecommunications Companies Owners of Nigeria led by the President, Olusola Teniola paid him a courtesy call on Thursday in Abuja.
Dabata noted that the July date given to the telecommunications companies is pragmatic due to the crisis rocking the industry with a view of ameliorating the situation.
“Yesterday because of the realisation of what hurdling can do to the industry, we arranged a better important meeting of all the telecommunication companies, we mediated, mediation as what the acts and powers are commission to do in terms of crisis like this.
“There is a debt crisis in the industry but it is being managed very well. We all agreed yesterday that pragmatic ways must be found to settle debts and I think that a deadline has been given and I think it is mid-July for this payment plan. Like I said, that is pragmatic, you will not be worked out in order to ensure that those who owe start paying and those who are being owed start receiving,” said Danbatta.
On the issue of paving way for broadband infrastructure deployment, the EVC said one of the resolution of the commission is to ensure that there is an adherence to the national economic council document on the payment of #145 per metre length of fibre by Telecom industries against the N700 to N800 being charged by states.
The President, Association of Telecommunications Companies Owners of Nigeria m, Olusola Teniola earlier in his remarks said, multiple taxation was bedeviling the telecommunication companies.
He ought the NCC’s assistance to address the challenges being faced as a result of multiple taxation.
“The Commission is not directly responsible for multiple taxation, we are seeking their assistance to address the challenge. At the moment, we are facing 38. Ministry of finance needs to harmonise the taxes the 38 we are facing. We do not want to face the 39th levy imposed on the industry.
“The multiple taxation serves as a disincentive to operators. Without our ability to attract investment to actually roll out broadband infrastructure, we have consumers who are not benefitting from the digital dividends in the cities.
“We need the taxes to be removed to encourage investment to flow in,” he stated, adding that the investment will encourage better education, jobs. That should be the focus of the government,” he said
On the issue of broadband investment Initiative, Teniola noted that talks are on with state governors.
“We started with Akwa Ibom because our past president, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem is there to attract foreign investment and also want the youths to be present,” Teliola said.
Oyin Aminu, Abuja
