By Adekunle Adekoya

THIS August will make it just eleven years that the Nigerian ICT sector, unarguably the wunderkind of our economy took a quantum leap forward when the first two GSM telcos were licensed for business.

From a paltry 400,000 lines in August 2001, the nation as at February now boasts at least 96 million active lines, comprising 92,006,608  million GSM lines, 4,031,820 CDMA lines, and 578,152 fixed wireless lines. These are the regulator (NCC)’s figures.

If the electric power sector had achieved just half of the success that the telecoms sector recorded, one can only imagine at what pace of productivity our economy would be moving. It is astounding that the telcos, running with the regulator, achieved so much largely on generator electricity. If the huge costs associated with that were available for reinvestment, then the sky wouldn’t even be the limit.

Multiple taxes, levies
But in these climes, good things always come under one kind of threat or the other, a phenomenon that has led some of our compatriots to postulate that the Ph.D (pull-him-down) syndrome resides in each and every one of us. Or else, how would one describe the spate of multiple taxes and levies in virtually all states of the federation that the telcos — especially the major networks — are being asked to pay?

Telecoms mast

The situation is getting so worrisome that the sector’s regulator, the NCC had to oversee the set up and inauguration of an industry working group (IWG) in which all the telcos are represented to find solutions to the problem. As well it should; NCC would not look on idly and watch the gains made under its superintendence in a decade get wiped out by loose cannons fired by state and local governments in forms of taxes and levies.

At the last tally, the IWG told newsmen that the telcos have received demand notices for one tax and levy or the other from the state and local governments amounting to over N10 billion, and still counting. And just last week, the Delta State Government gave a seven-day ultimatum to the management of MTN to pay accumulated ecology tariff amounting to N454.9 million or be ready to shut down their various masts scattered across the state!

Let’s respect the constitution
I understand the need by governments to shore up their revenue base, but with due respect to our unitarian federalism, telecommunications is still on the exclusive legislative list and until constitutional amendments dictate the contrary, it is in our interest to respect the Constitution.

Besides, these taxes and levies will only hurt all of us; it will be added to the cost of business and we will all pay as increased tariffs and other service charges. Government officials should not be smug about this because their phones are running on taxpayers’money; we are all losers.

Can Delta State Government really carry out that threat and cut off millions of subscribers in the state? Imagine if Lagosians can’t call Warri, Sapele, Gbaramatu or Ughelli?

A member of the IWG opined that telcos may shut down services for just one day or two to protest multiple taxation. Just what we need; add that to the threats by the governments, and retreat to stone age times stares us all in the face.

As an individual with solid locus standi in this matter, I hereby call on the Minister of Communications Technology, the Joint Tax Board, the IWG and other stakeholders, including the National Economic Council to urgently intervene in this matter in the interest of the telecoms sector.