President Bola Tinubu was urged by the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, to cease the creation of additional taxes for Nigerians, and rather focus on providing solutions to end hunger in the nation.
Expressing his concerns, Primate Ayodele stated that amidst Nigeria’s ongoing economic difficulties, imposing an increase in Value Added Tax, stamp duty, and implementing a cybersecurity levy is inappropriate, considering the current plight of ordinary citizens.
In a press release issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, he emphasized the need for the government to reassess its policies to ensure they are people-oriented, especially given the prevailing hardships in the country.
He remarked: “Raising VAT, stamp duty, and enforcing the cybersecurity levy at this juncture is ill-timed. Nigeria and even the ruling government may not fully grasp the implications, but it is crucial for them to thoroughly review these policies.”
“These measures will only exacerbate the populace’s struggles, driving up food prices and negating any wage hikes. Prudent policy revisions are imperative to prevent heightened sufferings,” he continued.
Primate Ayodele also urged the CBN governor to meticulously examine policies that could pose future challenges for the government and impact Nigerian banking institutions.
He remarked that the current policies are unduly stringent and will have widespread repercussions across the nation.
“The CBN governor must scrutinize policies that portend future complications for the government; a clinical review is warranted to safeguard banks. Prolonging these measures will further burden Nigerians,” he stated.
“What Nigerians require presently is sustenance and access to adequate meals. The current trajectory will adversely affect both small-scale enterprises and affluent individuals. The president is being misled by numerous individuals within his circle,” he added.