ABIOLA Sanni, a Tax Consultant on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to put in place appropriate policies to solve the lingering problem in the telecommunication sector.

Sanni made the call at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Stakeholders Engagement Meeting with relevant state agencies in charge of telecommunications matters.

He spoke on the topic: “Harmonisation of Taxation /Regulation of Telcom Infrastructure’’.

He said that appropriate policy formulation and implementation held the key in solving any lingering problem including the one in the telecom sector.

According to him, the major problems bedeviling the telecommunication sector may not be about taxation or multiple taxation rather the abuse of regulatory powers by various relevant agencies for revenue purpose.

He however did not rule out the issue of multiple taxation, which he said was also partly responsible for the hindrance in expansion and development in the industry.

Sanni urged stakeholders in the telecom sector to sustain the advocacy for curbing exorbitant, arbitrary and oppressive charges by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Stakeholders should embrace the challenge of developing a Draft Charter of Rights to show the gap between expectation and performance.

Mr Sunday Usoro (SAN), while delivering a lecture: “Legal Framework for Telecom Infrastructure rollout’’ said that multiple taxation and duplicated regulations were major factors militating against rollout of telecom infrastructure.

Usoro said that these factors were major hindrances to the stability of the telecom industry and broadband penetration.

He called on stakeholders to champion the cause of review and harmonisation of all information communication technology laws to ensure that they streamlined to wholly support and facilitate telecom infrastructure rollout.

“Government needs to stimulate rollout expansion to the rural and underserved areas, particularly those areas that may not be considered profit-centres,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting has the theme “Optimising the Benefits of Telecoms Infrastructure in Nigeria. (NAN)

– Jul. 17, 2018 @ 17:59 GMT |