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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has insisted that payments on advertisments and promotions do not amount to double taxation.
The Commission said this at the closing ceremony of a three-day public inqury on draft of Telecom Regulations and Guidelines review on Thursday in Abuja, where stakeholders complained about multiple taxation.
Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management, (ECSM) NCC, Mr Adeleke Adeolu, explained that the new fees for advertisments and promotions were to meet current realities and protect consumers. According to Adeolu, while the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Nigerian Lottery Commission (NLC) are regulators of advertisments and lotteries, the NCC is the regulator of the telcom industry where they operate.
“I think multiple taxation is a strong word to use there. It is not in the form of a tax. These are fees for the administration of an application process whereby licencees have to apply to us. “This is in the interest of consumers to ensure that where advertisements or promotions are being run on telecommunication platforms, they are done with responsibility, within existing laws and to ensure that the interest of consumers are protected.
“If you look at the rates for advertisements and promotions, these rates were set many years ago.”
