The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Information and Communications chaired by Hon. Boston Munda on Friday 25th June 2021 at the Administrative Building of Parliament engaged several service providers including mobile network operators and Internet service providers, in order to comply with the law, in lieu of tax payment to Universal Access Development Fund (UADF).
In his opening statement, chairman Hon. Boston Munda said they received a letter from the Ministry of Information and Communications to explain in detail the law which gave UADF the mandate to collect tax from ISP/MNOs amounting to 0.75% of taxation as established by law.
The Chairman said Parliament decided to intervene in the matter and explained the law made by the House about the subject matter.
Representing the UADF, Madam Marie Momoh, the Chief Executive Officer of UADF said a letter was sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information for IMO/ISP to pay their 0.75% taxation to the UADF. She explained to the committee that they needed the resources to undertake development as prescribed in the law.
The Chief Executive Officer of Africell, Shadi Gerjawi representing mobile operators clarified that they want to comply with the laws established, but they are in doubt about the definition of the formula to use on gross income or gross revenue income.
Deputy Director General of NATCOM, Mr. Daniel Amara Brewah said the Financial Management Act explained fully the revenue aspect whilst Dr. William Tucker, a tax expert for Africel explained and defended the payment system in compliance with mobile networks of the statutory contribution of 0.75% of their gross annual revenue.
Operators commented and appreciated the work of the information committee and acknowledged that they would do the needful to comply with the laws.
Through rigorous explanations on the Law by MPs, it was unanimously resolved that all operators pay their taxes to the office of the Universal Access Development Fund in the next few weeks
