The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has raised objections to the imposition of additional taxes and levies on business owners to finance the proposed Child Online Access Protection Bill.
Representing FIRS Chairman Mr. Zacch Adedeji, Mathew Osanekwu expressed this stance during a session with the House Committee on Justice in Abuja on Tuesday, convened to discuss the bill.
Adedeji conveyed FIRS’s preference for funding the bill through appropriation rather than imposing an additional taxation burden, citing the organization’s existing responsibility for revenue collection on behalf of the government.
Emphasizing that FIRS supports the bill’s intention, he urged that global best practices should be adopted while addressing concerns about the funding mechanism.
Abang Abua, a deputy director representing the Nigeria Communication Commission CEO Aminu Maida, echoed apprehension about the proposed funding method through taxation, citing the current tax burdens faced by operators.
Pwadumoi Okoh, deputy director at the National Human Rights Commission, commended the bill as a proactive measure for safeguarding children’s rights but noted certain errors in the document.
House Committee on Justice Chairman Olumide Osoba clarified the bill’s objective, emphasizing the need for service providers to protect the internet for children.
He assured stakeholders that the house would engage in consultations to refine the bill before its final passage, highlighting that the Ministry of Communication and the NCC would monitor the process without imposing any additional levies.
