Elder Statesman and Dean, Borno Elders Forum, Prof. Khalifa Dikwa has stated that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration was blackmailed.
Dikwa was speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday said President Tinubu was blackmailed into making the cybersecurity levy policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
The elder statesman said, “These forces can’t be seen. They rely on intimidation to get their bidding done.
“It is the wrong time to impose the cybersecurity levy.
“I’m not surprised by the directive because Nigeria is seemingly controlled remotely by external forces,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has stepped down a motion calling for the suspension of the cybersecurity levy. Recall that levy has elicited negative reactions from Nigerians since its announcement.
The motion to suspend the levy was moved by honourable Manu Soro, on the floor of the House on Wednesday. Soro explained that the levy was coming at the wrong time, considering the current living conditions of Nigerians.
The lawmaker also argued that the National Security Adviser is a political office. Therefore, does not have mandate to manage accruals.
After entertaining the arguments, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, urged the lawmaker to step down the motion. This is to allow the leadership of the House to deliberate on how best to address the situation.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had described the planned cybersecurity levy as added burden on Nigerians.
According to a circular issued to various financial institutions, including commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, CBN indicated that the levy would come into effect in two weeks from May 6.
However, the introduction of the levy at this austere period has sparked widespread criticism among Nigerians.
Speaking against the levy, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said such deductions directly affect the disposable income of workers. He stated that the policy will further diminish the purchasing power of the common citizens.
Ajaero, therefore, described the directive as another gang up by the ruling elite, to continue its extortion and exploitation of helpless workers and the masses.
source: Vanguard
