By Bimbola Oyesola , [email protected]
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has reiterated that the proposed increase in taxes through the Finance Bill at the National Assembly would further throw more Nigerians into the unemployment market and more companies shutting down.
Expressing its position presented to the Senate Committee on Finance Act 2021 with emphasis on the likely consequences of the Act, if not checked, congress president, Quadri Olaleye, said as it stands efforts should be geared towards economic development and how to save the few available jobs, and not burdening organisations and workers with multiple taxation and other inhibitions that stifle business.
According to him, there should be reduction of electronic money transfer levy of N50 to N10 because of multiple taxation.
“The levy should only affect transfer of N50,000.00 or more and the sharing formula of 15% to the Federal and 85% to the States should be maintained,” he said.
On PAYE/ Personal Income Tax, he advised that any person or workers receiving as low as N50,000 per month should be exempted from Personal Income Tax, emphasizing that the N30,000.00 in the law should be increased to N50,000 as tax relief to low-income earners.
Olaleye also proposed that the current rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) should be reduced from 7.5% to its original rate of 5% because organisations and workers were already contending with multiple taxes which to a large extent was discouraging investors.
On Capital Gain Tax, he said, “the sums obtained by way of compensation for loss of office, be increased to a maximum of N50,000,000 from its original amount of N10,000,000. This amount (N50,000,000) should not be chargeable gain and should not be subjected to tax under this Act, provided that any sum in excess of N50,000,000 shall not be so exempt but the excess amount shall be chargeable gain and subject to tax accordingly”.
He added that the capital allowance under small scale businesses should be allowed to be brought forward and also not be taxed.
TUC also called that tax should be exempted from premium paid to insurance company by an individual in respect of insurance of his life or that of his spouse or contract of deferred annuity to his own life or that of his spouse, adding that this would serve as a big relief for insurance policy holders.
Further disturbed by the comatose situation of the manufacturing sector, Olaleye charged the federal government and all policy makers to churn out policies that would be all inclusive, re-distribute wealth and re-direct social economic behaviour of the people.
He said that unless that was done Nigeria may end up being a spectator in the AfCFTA as no consuming nation would be able to play any significant role.
He said, “All affiliates of Congress are currently flooded with letters from organizations requesting redundancy negotiations. To save the few available jobs government MUST adequately consider it’s policies.
“Duty on carbonated drink is one of the policies that is capable of creating more redundancy and unemployment. If we can revive the manufacturing industry I can assure you the country will spend less on insecurity, he added.