Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, has strongly criticized the controversial cybersecurity levy, denouncing it as an additional burden on citizens without corresponding increases in income.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Senator Ndume expressed his disapproval of the proposed cybersecurity levy, noting that it would escalate the tax burden on Nigerians without addressing the fundamental issue of income growth.
“You cannot be loading taxes on people when you are not increasing their income. Their source of income, you are not widening it, you are not increasing it. I am not part of those that support levying people anyhow,” Ndume said.
He clarified his stance, highlighting his support for the recent amendment to the Cybersecurity Act by the National Assembly, but regretted overlooking the provision imposing financial burdens on Nigerians.
“The amendment to the Cybersecurity Act, I supported it but not the nitty-gritty and I am not trying to run away from any blame. We have issues with cybercrime you know that, and there is a need for the government to improve the Cybercrime Act, that is what I understand by the amendment.
“Looking at the nitty-gritty would have been the responsibility of interested parties. If I had known there is an issue where a cost would be transferred to a customer or a Nigerian I would not agree,” he said.
While acknowledging the importance of combating cybercrime, Senator Ndume stressed that the responsibility for scrutinizing the intricacies of legislative amendments lies with interested parties, including civil society organizations and labor unions.
In a circular dated May 6, 2024 to all deposit money banks and mobile money operators and payment service providers, the apex bank directed the deduction of the levy to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The CBN directive has sparked widespread criticism with Labor unions threatening nationwide action unless the government withdraws the directive.
In response to the outcry, the House of Representatives has called on the CBN to retract the “ambiguous” circular, citing concerns over its implementation.
