By Chinenye Anuforo
Telecommunications Expert, Ayoola Oke, has urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to reject dollar payment demands by foreign owned telecoms operators from local operators in the country.
A statement by Ayoola, said that the ongoing resolution between NCC and the telecoms operators should comply with Section 15 of the CBN Act that makes Naira the exclusive means of payment in and within Nigeria and between Nigerian companies.
The Lawyer recalled that recently the Governor of Central Bank in his frantic effort to shore up the value of the Naira issued a statement reminding Nigerians that it is a criminal offence to refuse Naira payment for goods and services transacted in Nigeria.
According to him, the problem with the Nigerian economy is that the Naira will continue to bleed its value if dollarization is not resisted.
Oke cited an instance that foreign owned entities who are able to collect revenue in dollars would evade Central Bank control of repatriation of dollars out of the country, adding that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) may also find it more challenging to monitor revenue of such companies and tax them appropriately.
“I am aware of a confusion on a matter whereby MTN and some major foreign owned operators are demanding payment in dollars but I believe the NCC is looking into it with a view to resolving same.
“The consultation between NCC and some smaller operators is ongoing and my position is that any resolution should comply with Section 15 of the CBN Act that makes Naira the exclusive means of payment in and within Nigerian and between any two Nigerian companies.
“In fact, we are all witnesses to the tax remittance controversy between MTN and FIRS currently making rounds in the media,” he said.
The lawyer urged Nigerians to join hands to save the Naira by not subrogating it with any foreign currency.
Oke, therefore, suggested that NCC should step in to reserve a minimum of 30 percent of in and outbound international traffic for routing through smaller locally owned Nigerian companies.
Ayoola added that Foreign owned companies must not be allowed to control the routing of all Nigeria’s international traffic as this also raises national security and safety concerns.