Nigerians have taken to Twitter to complain as telecommunication companies commence charge of the new 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on Data and Calls.
The 7.5% increase in VAT is one of the key features of the 2019 Finance Bill President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law on January 13th,2020. The implementation of the new VAT started on February 1st, 2020.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) announced that it will start implementing the country’s new 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase beginning February 1 2020.
“Further to the assent of the Finance Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari…which reviewed the Value Added Tax from 5% to 7.5%, ALTON wishes to notify consumers that our members will begin applying the new rate on all purchased telecommunication products and services with effect from 1st of February 2020,” ALTON said in a statement jointly signed by its chairman Gbenga Adebayo and head of operations Gbolahan Awonuga.
Despite this, the application of the new 7.5% charge on data and calls has not gone down well with some Nigerians on Twitter.
7.5% VAT on all outgoing calls.😭
7.5% VAT on data purchase😭What are turning is to?🤷🏾♂
Soon they will be collecting VAT on the air we a breathe😭 pic.twitter.com/0bDI0CR2kh
— Favoured DJ Frendzy (@dj_frendzy) February 5, 2020
You should be calling out Federal Govt. not MTN.
Your President signed the Financial Bill into Law few days ago and it has taken effect.
7.5% VAT for Every Call, SMS, Recharge, Transfer or even Borrowing😂😂😂— Agunego Victor (@iamversatile) February 5, 2020
I remember when APC sent @Ayourb on national television to explain to Nigerians how 7.5% VAT increase will not affect the poor masses. Now the poor masses are crying the most 😥. Oh my God. Propaganda is dangerous
— Obinna Nwosu (@obi_Nwosu) February 5, 2020
May God save this country! 7.5% VAT. pic.twitter.com/xL4BdoJ6wm
— Ayemojubar (@ayemojubar) February 5, 2020
7.5% VAT won't affect the poor masses yen yen yen.
7.5% VAT is only for luxuries yen yen yen.
Now MTN is adding 7.5% VAT to calls/texts or sending texts & phone call is for the rich alone?.
The annoying part is we didn't even have good roads to show for all the before before tax.— Zaddy Ajala (@UNCLE_AJALA) February 5, 2020
Pls see the screenshot that indicates the 7.5% VAT charge is now being applied on mobile phonecalls
I guess only the rich make phone calls in Nigeria?
Where are the Buharinomics experts & Ajurian economists that claimed the increase won't affect the poor?
Purveyors of poverty! pic.twitter.com/ihoGghTBID
— The Revolutionary Seeker (WAEC) (@The_Seeker76) February 5, 2020
Omo 245 secs doesn't get up to 27 naira oooo ….. Please how are they calculating the 7.5% VAT pic.twitter.com/z9PfrhWmtY
— Lota Utulu (@Gabe_cena) February 5, 2020
So this 7.5% VAT applies to calls🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/D59gQYZoVP
— Dapsy (@turburna1) February 5, 2020
7.5% VAT finished my flashing credit… see I'm done… Republic of Benin here I come 😂 pic.twitter.com/5mpdc5HlvN
— Oke Ayodeji Todeji (@AyodejiOke_) February 5, 2020
7.5% VAT. Mbok lemme dust my glo sim. No to xenophobian rubbish. pic.twitter.com/vXBEQWzHyE
— Ikani (@georgeikani) February 5, 2020
I haven't even collected the New minimum wage yet, Bubu has already taken it back with 7.5% VAT….Tragic 😫😫😫😫
— Akwa Ibom Hypeman (@romeocza) February 5, 2020
However, other social media users have urged Nigerians to stop complaining because the amount the Federal Government is charging as VAT is one of the lowest in Africa.
This is the fact that they won’t want you to know,but all they know how to do is to Tweet about 7.5% VAT charge. pic.twitter.com/CPTXduf0aw
— Ògúndèlé Tèjúmòlá Ph.d (@OgundeleTeju) February 5, 2020
