Federal Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have
made case on the need to make it legally mandatory for stakeholders in
the telecommunications industry to pay services tax. This position came
to the fore on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 during a debate on the general
principles of ‘A Bill for an Act to provide for the Institute of the
Telecommunications Services Tax’ standing in the name of Hon. Saheed
Akinade.
He argued that the
telecommunications sector is vast and could serve as a critical source
of revenue for the nation, also that tax payments for Communications
Services is a global practice which Nigeria should key into; after
entertaining a robust debate on the desirability or otherwise of the
Bill, the question was put from the Chair, by the Speaker, Rt. Hon.
Yakubu Dogara; and the Bill got majority nod from the Lawmakers to scale
second reading. The House Committee on Telecommunications now owes the
Chamber a duty to proceed with further legislative actions on the Bill.
Another
Bill that was read the second time on the floor of the House was a Bill
seeking to establish the Chartered Institute of Global Communications
and Democracy of Nigeria. The Sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Mohammed Ali
Wudil averred that the intendment of the legislation include to provide
for control of its Membership as well as to promote and foster the
practice of Business Communications and Democracy in the nation.
In
a similar development, 13 Bills were read the third time and passed
during Wednesday’s plenary; in this category was ‘A Bill for an Act to
Amend the Corrupt Practices and other related Offenses Act, No. 5 of
2000 to modify the definition of Bank and Money instrument, Review the
Composition of the Commission and harmonize the tenure of Office of
Members.
Meanwhile, two Members of the House of the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) extract have announced their defection to the All
Progressive Congress (APC) on the grounds of the division currently
existing in the party. They were Hon. Tony Nwoye (Anambra) and Hon.
Emmanuel Odenga (Benue). The notice of defection was respectively
communicated to the House by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
However,
the Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor protested against the defections,
stating that no court of competent jurisdiction has declared that there
is a faction existing in the PDP; adding that by the provisions of
section 68 of the 1999 Constitution, the Members are required to vacate
their legislative seats.
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