According to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the welfare and security of the people is the primary objective of government. However, I have come to the realization that the government itself intends on violating this constitution with the malicious intent of the planned Communication Service Tax which is expected to raise N240 billion annually for the government.
The dangers that will abound as a result of the Communication service tax bill might not be evident before its implementation, however they should be anticipated. Students far away from home will not be able to call their parents for urgent and pressing needs. For the impoverished masses, this tax could mean their inability to afford calls or SMS to seek help in case of emergencies like armed robbery, fire, accidents or a woman being in labor. This will be the reality due to lack of social security for citizens of this country.
Furthermore, simple business transactions would be made complex as a result of increased operation costs and an undeniable distance which will have to be covered in order to complete commercial activities. Telecommunications companies will also be affected by this transaction hurdle, causing loss of jobs where business is no longer profitable and eventually causing a widening divide between the rich and the poor.
Certainly, we can see from the observations above that the proposed tax means ill for the welfare and prosperity of Nigerians and the economy. Rather than tax us more, other avenues could be explored such as the plugging of fiscal leakages in the system; fighting corruption with sincerity; making effective regulations to boost the key sectors of the economy, and reassure local and foreign investors of a stable and fair business environment.
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