As the Federal Government declared tax reliefs for businesses due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is considering new taxes to generate revenue to fund the 2021 Appropriation Act.

The Nigeria Customs Service also proposed the return of a N1.50 levy on every litre of petroleum product bought in the country. Non-alcoholic beverages are also to be taxed like alcoholic drinks and tobacco.

Controller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), had on Thursday appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Customs to defend the service’s 2020 budgetary performance and 2021 proposal.

Ali, who led top officials of the Customs before the committee, made written and oral submissions. The lawmakers also grilled him for about three hours.

The Customs boss told the lawmakers that the service had designed various strategies to improve revenue generation in 2021 based on the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

Part of the programmes to be executed is the e-Customs, which will make its operations electronic and automated. Ali said the NCS plans to purchase operational scanners and border surveillance equipment, among others.

“Proportionally, it is the service’s expectation that, as a result of this reform, we will increase the revenue base of the government,” he said.

The Customs boss also noted that the service recommended and the government approved downward tariff review of the current 35 per cent levy on new and luxury imported vehicles to five per cent. He said the duty on commercial vehicles was also downwardly reviewed from 35 per cent to 10 per cent.

He said, “This is to encourage massive importation of vehicles into Nigeria and further increase the revenue base of the government; also, and most importantly, to reduce smuggling of vehicles through our borders. The complaint has always been that the tariff is too high and, therefore, people are forced to go through the borders to smuggle their vehicles.

“Based on that and now that we have succeeded in reducing these duties, it is our belief that most of the vehicles coming into Nigeria will come through the ports and by so doing, it will create jobs, increase earnings for not only the Customs but also other operatives in the marine sector. So, it is a win-win situation as far as we are concerned.”

Consequently, Ali stated that a levy would now be reintroduced on petroleum products, adding that the NCS had recommended that telecommunications service providers should also be taxed on the recharge cards they produce, while carbonated drinks would also become taxable soon.

He said, “One of the reasons for us to tax carbonated drinks is that, if we tax alcoholic beverages and tobacco because they are injurious to our health, carbonated drinks, with the content of sugar, are equally injurious to our health.

“Most of the diabetes cases we see today are as a result of consumption of these drinks. So, it is deadly; as deadly as tobacco. Alcohol is less deadly than them. But we are still running a zero excise duty on these companies.”

https://m.punchng.com/Business/FG-considers-fresh-taxes-on-petroleum-products-beverages

Issorite

They are not thinking of how to tax herders who graze plants that are meant for beverage production. All their focus is to tax where the owners of Nigeria do not have much at stake in. Free land, free food, yet no taxes from herders.

Not surprised.

Basically what we earn from oil is too low for a nation our size, plus diversifcaiton, despite the government singing about it, has not woekrd out well after five years....

So, taxes, and subsidy removal.

They want to tax life out of poor Nigerian.. one chance govt

Godarz:
Not surprised.

Basically what we earn from oil is too low for a nation our size, plus diversifcaiton, despite the government singing about it, has not woekrd out well after five years....

So, taxes, and subsidy removal.

Tax is good but only when it applies evenly and fairly to all. I support taxing the most commonly used produce among citizens. If petrol is taxed, it spreads to the pocket of so many folks. If beverage is taxed and cattle's aren't, then that's not fair.

Carbonated drinks is the cause of diabetes?

Coming from a government of nepotism and mediocrisy, I'm not surprised

If only they'd extend this to the luxury goods and items that fuels their kleptocracy of our collective wealth.

Evil dundees in power.

Okay

Taxes on beers wey HISBAH don destroy finish?

This government is very good at increasing tax on every product but very bad at initiating any policy that will improve the life of average nigerian. In other words, we should tighten our belts to recieve the news of new increase in pump price.
All these taxes generated, what does the government do with them? Because I can't seem to find any improvement in this country since 2015. It seems we are moving backward with the speed of light.
There was really a country. Odiegwu!!!

Tax on kaikai that they'll use to share with Hisbah states as allocation.

This useless government never have any good news for her citizens apart from tax tax tax tax and exploit them after stealing the treasury dry !!! Hopefully come 2023 the masses will not collect 1k to sell their future as stated by my friend @Gandollar #WiseUP my people !!

After 2023,Nigerians go try and erase 2015_2023 from memory

One chance regime.....Buhari has messed up this fraud called Nigeria.

FG tax foreign workers/expatriates, and thier companies higher, UK tax foreign footballers almost 35% direct taxes, Nigerian expatriates/workers are taxed almost 40%, in America and UK. A good leader makes money outside and takes care of his people. Make money with our market advantage. Think. stop killing poor Nigerians with taxes.

okay

The other day, I realised that there's a 50 naira tax on electronic transactions. Something called "electronic transfer levy."

The amount of ridiculous taxes that the ordinary Nigerians has to put up with is killing. This is in an oil rich country where millions are syphoned daily

The worst part is that these taxed money don't end up contributing to anything meaningful.

Are we taxing people to keep running our ludicrously expensive government?

So, politicians can just loot uncontrollably and then begin to tax the masses once their source of stealing ceases to flow?

Eventually, the citizens bear the brunt of their own docility and refusal to have a say in the affairs of their own country.

Nigerians, wake up!!!

Everything the poor masses benefits from is what this govt concentrate on taxing. They want to tax the masses to their grave.
The govt will not tax all the big, empty buildings and unoccupied estates in Abuja.

The government is making life harder for the common man. The revenue generated will still be looted by a criminal in the government.




To the government officials reading this. You better unconsider your consideration on the fresh tax.










Bampeh is unhappy!

It's well

I get Custom cleared/2004/2005 Mazda MPV forsale. .

Buy for 1.9m Incase you want mini executive bus to carry 7 passengers comfortable for private trips

Can we literally survive this?

At the end of it all, life is just going to get harder for the poor who already struggle to pay already perceived exorbitant amount for goods. Tax on petroleum products will surely affect transportation of people and goods! And every seller will find a way to transfer to the last buyer. Hello more expensive garri

[img]https://media./images/a7f2292921c4826185460ae2bcb21839/tenor.gif[/img]

prices just dey skyrocket in this country,they still wanto introduce toll gates again,increase fuel price,prices of commodities, everything...which kind wahala be this one now?

dotna:
It's well

Nothing is well here.

Dem nor go touch cement.

Everything is just turningoninown, na who dey sit down dey bring all these taxes idea now