A Telephone Subscribers advocacy body, has advised the Federal Government to drop its plan to impose 9 per cent tax on every phone call made, text message sent and data used by Nigerians.
Rather than impose the tax on Nigerians, the group tasked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federation Government to immediately roll out social protection programmes as palliative for the effect of harsh economy on the masses.
It stressed that the economic recession into which the nation had sunk had further compounded the plight of the underprivileged members of the society, who had already been victims of long years of corruption, abuse of power and underdevelopment in the country.
ATCIS said this on Sunday in an open letter to the Federal Government by National President Association of Telephone, Cable TV & Internet Subscriber of Nigeria, Prince Sina Bilesanmi popularly known as Ojueko.
It called on the government to note that the economic crisis in the country had become a threat to human rights.
It reminded the government of its obligation to create conditions in which Nigerians and other people living in the country could effectively exercise the full range of their human rights, including economic and social rights.
ATCIS advised Buhari to propose a legislation to end allocation of security votes to both the federal and state governments, which the group argued had always been embezzled or diverted.
The letter read partly, “ATCIS asks President Buhari to immediately drop the proposed 9 per cent tax on phone calls, text messages, data and more, as this would disproportionately affect the socially and economically vulnerable and push them deeper into poverty and deprivation.
“Increased poverty and the hunger that it brings will threaten the right to life and health of many socially and economically-vulnerable, including women and children. These groups of people are bearing the brunt and feeling the impacts of the economic crisis on their standards of living, their jobs and their homes.
“Your government has a binding obligation to ensure that all its policies to address the economic crisis are consistent with standards of human rights law.
“At the same time, the role of your government is to act as the guarantor of human rights of millions of impoverished Nigerians, including economic and social rights. Economic recession cannot be used as excuse for failing to fulfil these rights.
The leading masses advocacy body that promote Subscriber interests as well as defends Subscriber right by promoting and endorsed good product or service from Mobile Network Operator, Cable Tv and Internet Service providers company association Subscriber member’s across 36 States converge within six geopolitical zone with over 200 million Subscribers membership in Nigeria said it is very ridiculous to hear or to see that FGN added any percentage to our call rate.
This is putting more burden to over 200 millions subscribers.
Also FGN is encouraging or indirectly welcoming ALTON request
More importantly,FGN is aware that Telecom were not giving us quality services anywhere anytime all over Nigerian, across all 6 geopolitical zone.
Our unused Data paid for some were even borrowed with service charge would still be stolen away from subscribers hiding under Terms & Conditions applied.
It’s the Subscribers that will pay or suffers the consiquence of the current line block by the FGN?
FGN is yet categorically tell Nigerian how NlN is going to be of benefits to Nigerian rather than to create more hardship to the Subscribers
This is totally unacceptable and unwelcome idea.
Right from day one subscribers have not been enjoying the services compare with what subscribers are paying till today.
This means that the telecom will now go ahead to add their own increment to make the call tarrif even higher than the one that ATCIS prevent. For government to sign a telecom tax into law because of funding for an insurance scheme it means there is no regard for the ripple effect on consumers. ATCIS being the umbrella body for the subscribers must be involved in the disbursement process for the collected funds to be able to certify that indeed the vulnerable in our society are being provided for with regards to health care not like the case of school feeding where many south west states still do not have the program initiated in their schools. The body demands that telecom providers must improve upon their service to subscribers before they can make an increase in their pricing of products while we still insist on our previous demands for a free call day on October 1 which is the independence day for Nigerian Subscribers.
Association of Telephone, Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria has made several impact history in what people believe it can’t possible with over 788 newspaper publications, both local and international as well as online news publications, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 264 Success achievements so far to the benefit of every Subscribers across the country Nigeria. On advocacy alone
ATCIS-Nigeria has spent about N505 million naira according to financial records since 2014 till to date, which has been on self-sponsored by Subscriber members without government agency’s in Nigeria.
“We urge President Buhari to immediately provide economic stimulus packages that are focused on limiting the worst human consequences of the crisis, and give priority attention to the most vulnerable and marginalised in the distribution of resources.”
ATCIS social platforms are; http://www.atcisnigeria.com
Email: atcisnigeria@gmail.com
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Telegram: t.me/atcisnigeria
Twitter: @atcis9ja
Facebook: atcisnigeria ATCIS hotline & WhatsApp: 07052713300
