CST will add to Nigerians’ pain

T HE Federal Government should come to the rescue of Nigerians by providing an environment that is enabling for good living. What Nigerians are asking from the government is enduring dividends of democracy that will make life better and more reassuring.

This is why most Nigerians are passionately pleading with the government, the Federal legislators and relevant stakeholders to pause and take a second look at the long term adverse implications of the proposed Communication Service Tax (CST) Bill.

Yes government seeks to raise N20 billion monthly through this tax in order to shore up its revenue, but the truth is that, the tax will further compound the suffering and pathetic socio-economic situation of the vast majority of the people.

Imagine the monumental amount of money that an additional nine per cent charge on voice calls, SMS and Whatsapp will take away from the meagre income of an average worker or poor trader.

Imagine the cumulative sums of money an average family will be forced to part with any time they renew the subscription of their pay TV services.  This new tax that is being proposed can only add on to the hardship of the masses.

The trajectory of this tax is to turn pay TV services, among others, which had somewhat become affordable into luxury items like it was in the late 90s.

Why would government want to impose more hardship on the people by imposing new taxes on them? Is taxing the citizens far beyond tolerable limits the way out of paucity of funds to run a government?

• Nike Orimolade,

Ilorin,

Kwara State.