Gov says FG wants to tax Nigerians to death

Fayose asked Nigerians to resist any attempt to impose new tax on them by the Federal Government.

He stated this in a press release issued in Ado Ekiti by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday, November 30.

The Governor queried why the government is always looking for more avenues for taxes. "Do they want Nigerians to pay with their blood," he asked.

Fayose further said: "If the only way the federal government believes it can take Nigeria out of recession is to impose obnoxious taxes that will further impoverish the people, the federal government is not being fair to Nigerians.

"Under 20 months of Buhari’s government, petrol price was increased from N87 to N145 per litre, kerosene; diesel and gas prices were increased, electricity tariff was increased, N50 stamp duty was introduced on bank customers, 9% tax for the use of communication services like calls, SMS, MMS and data usage from telecommunication service providers; internet service providers and Pay TV Stations.

"It is also under this APC government that N65 levy was imposed on every withdrawal on ATM, various bank charges introduced, custom duties increased, increment of VAT from five per cent to 10 per cent contemplated, cost of vehicle number plate and driver’s licence increased, and now cost of internet subscription is to be increased too.

"Is this government out to tax Nigerians to death?"

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Fayose also condemned the proposed increment in the cost of data, saying it is coming less than three weeks after Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture complained about the damage social media is doing to the Buhari administration.

However, the Senate has ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to stop the proposed hike in the cost of data.

In compliance, the Commission on Wednesday announced the suspension of the action.