…As Emenike denies media reports alleging his support
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA has expressed shock over the sudden and unannounced introduction of the 4% Free On Board, FOB levy by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, saying that the development not only caught the leadership of ANLCA and its members unawares but came as a rude shock.
The National President of ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji who made the position of the association known in a statement on Wednesday disclosed that ANLCA frowned at the sudden introduction and wished to reiterate its hitherto appeal that the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, must not be made major revenue generating agency to the detriment of the agonising Nigerians and the rocketing inflation.
Nwokeoji argued that government should cultivate the habit of carrying the association as a major player as well as all other sister associations and stakeholders along in matters such as this because of the adverse effect on the economic stability of the country and its operations in the import and export sectors of the economy.
“Let it be on record that the failure of the NCS and the Ministry of Finance to recognize our strategic role in the port economy has continued to create unnecessary setbacks and policy summersaults and the FG must take responsibility for whatever disruptions these arbitrary charges will have on the industry and economy.
“On behalf of our teeming members, principals, and the poor masses who no doubt, will bear the burden of this additional tax, ANLCA wishes to state unequivocally, its opposition to the 4% tax. It goes without saying that we demand its immediate withdrawal.
“To say that we were taken aback by the development at a time we and other stakeholders are still in discussion with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS on the negative impact of multiple taxation on the economy and the urgent need to harmonise it is to say the least insensitive.
“While we will always strive to support the federal government in its quest to achieve purposeful and rational tax regime, it is our considered view that when the quests directly conflict with the buying power of the majority of ordinary Nigerians owing to the spate of galloping inflation that has so far defied measures advanced by our appointed economic managers/experts, caution should be exercised in churning out additional taxes”, he advised.
While insisting that the import sector had been burdened by too many taxes already, he, however, warned that additional taxes not properly evaluated and reconciled with existing ones would merely subject the masses to even greater sufferings, as according to him, “the importers will finally transfer the additional cost burdens to Nigerians to recover their expenses.”
“While ANLCA wishes to also state its readiness to accommodate the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 which ‘supports’ some of the emerging considerations, we make bold to state that the Act is far from perfect and suggest that the federal government should provide an enabling atmosphere for the Ease of Doing Business to thrive. This they can do by always carrying critical stakeholders along anytime it wishes to implement some sections of the NCSA 2023”, he added.
He therefore, appealed to the federal government to suspend the levy to allow for an exhaustive stakeholders engagement on the suddenly imposed 4% FOB levy for a comprehensive input saying, “This release is without prejudice to any further observation we may feel inclined to make, while we look forward earnestly to continued partnership with the federal government on the way forward; and indeed, in other areas of collaboration essential to grow the economy.”
The ANLCA boss, however, faulted the media reports which erroneously quoted him as conferring legitimacy on the controversial FOB levy noting that “It hurts that the media in its haste to go to press has unwittingly attributed to me a twisted verdict that is at variance with my professional conviction and leadership disposition as a team player.
“l only stated that as a responsible leader and team player, the NECOM will be meeting over the development soonest to have a broad based introspection and assessment of the new policy.”
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