The House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications on Wednesday assured that it would push for the passage of the National Critical infrastructure bill to reduce the incidents of destruction, theft and vandalisation of the infrastructure of Telecommunication Service providers in the country.
Speaking with reporters after an investigative session on revenue and job losses in the communications sector yesterday, Chairman of the Committee, Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi said members will push for the passage of the bill.
The lawmaker stated that Bill would ensure that critical infrastructure in the sector was regarded as Federal Government property and therefore adequately safeguarded.
According to him,” there are some infrastructure in Nigeria like pipelines that is useful to help the economy to grow.malso telecommunications facilities like masts, their sites and so on that need to be put in the proposed National Critical Infrastructure Bill just to guard against destruction and vandalisation.
“But the bill has been sitting in the Ministry of Communication ever since as an Executive Bill, and we’ve been asking them to bring it forward since, but they have not. We’ve spoken to the Minister to send the bill which he is reluctant to bring. So, we’re now asking the private organizations to come together. They can sponsor a bill on the floor of the House through a member if it’s useful for them.”
Speaking on the multiple taxes and levies plaguing the sector, the lawmaker said the committee is also looking at that aspect to encourage investors who have been complaining on the issue.
According to him, if necessary, the Federal Government can employ the services of the Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS, to make it a reality.
“There should be a one-stop shop where they can just pay one tax instead of Federal, State and Local Governments asking them to pay taxes. We’re looking at the possibility of them harmonizing the their taxes, because the companies have been complaining.”
During the investigative hearing, a company, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited lamented over the overlapping roles of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees in the House of Representatives saying the stress of demands on documents is much on their company.
Keith Boyd, who represented the company said his company is ready to partner with the Reps Committee in order to bring better services to Nigerians, but pleaded with the Committee to also make the process easier for them.The House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications on Wednesday assured that it would push for the passage of the National Critical infrastructure bill to reduce the incidents of destruction, theft and vandalisation of the infrastructure of Telecommunication Service providers in the country.
Speaking with reporters after an investigative session on revenue and job losses in the communications sector yesterday, Chairman of the Committee, Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi said members will push for the passage of the bill.
The lawmaker stated that Bill would ensure that critical infrastructure in the sector was regarded as Federal Government property and therefore adequately safeguarded.
According to him,” there are some infrastructure in Nigeria like pipelines that is useful to help the economy to grow.malso telecommunications facilities like masts, their sites and so on that need to be put in the proposed National Critical Infrastructure Bill just to guard against destruction and vandalisation.
“But the bill has been sitting in the Ministry of Communication ever since as an Executive Bill, and we’ve been asking them to bring it forward since, but they have not. We’ve spoken to the Minister to send the bill which he is reluctant to bring. So, we’re now asking the private organizations to come together. They can sponsor a bill on the floor of the House through a member if it’s useful for them.”
Speaking on the multiple taxes and levies plaguing the sector, the lawmaker said the committee is also looking at that aspect to encourage investors who have been complaining on the issue.
According to him, if necessary, the Federal Government can employ the services of the Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS, to make it a reality.
“There should be a one-stop shop where they can just pay one tax instead of Federal, State and Local Governments asking them to pay taxes. We’re looking at the possibility of them harmonizing the their taxes, because the companies have been complaining.”
During the investigative hearing, a company, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited lamented over the overlapping roles of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees in the House of Representatives saying the stress of demands on documents is much on their company.
Keith Boyd, who represented the company said his company is ready to partner with the Reps Committee in order to bring better services to Nigerians, but pleaded with the Committee to also make the process easier for them.
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