E-Business
CITN Helping FG Work on Tax Document for Tech Companies
Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) is working on a policy and strategy document for the taxation of global tech companies in Nigeria.
This is coming as 130 countries recently agreed on a minimum 15 per cent global tax rate on large multinational enterprises.
The pressure to tax global tech companies in Nigeria is coming on the heel of the suspension of the operations of Twitter, social platform.
Elsewhere, Adesina Adedayo, president, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, said the institute is working on a strategy document for taxation of global tech companies, among other taxes.
Adedayo spoke during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the institute to the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in Abuja.
The CITN president gave the Vice-President the communiqué the institute came up with during its 23rd annual tax conference in Kaduna.
While presenting the document, Adedayo said, “Arising from deliberations and a charge from his excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, CITN is working on a strategy document which would be concluded shortly towards addressing these salient issues: ways and means of taxation of the informal sector; taxation of agriculture at the farm gates; scale-up capturing tax identification records; and how to tax global technology companies.”
He urged the Federal Government to address its low revenue through improved tax collection method.
He said the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan as well as the measures implemented was a right response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic and was largely instrumental to creating buffers for the government at all levels in withstanding the pressures and waves created during the peak period and the aftermath of COVID-19.
Adedayo said, “However, it must be appreciated that our revenue levels are still quite low to create the necessary funds to undertake meaningful development.
“Therefore, it is important that we sustain measures already being implemented to improve tax collection at all levels.”
He said the institute had earlier on in the course of this administration presented the CITN Charter of Tax demands to the Federal Government.
The document provided some cogent recommendations by the CITN for a better tax system in particular and for national economic development.
He said some of the recommendations were already being implemented.
He said some areas that had not received considerable attention for consideration to included “creation of the office of adviser on taxation; national honours for deserving taxmen and taxpayers; address the multiple revenue collection agencies; and resolving the challenge of multiple taxation and tendency to introduce earmarked taxes.”
Others were the review of the incentives regime and abuse of tax waivers; and greater involvement of the institute as a think-thank on fiscal policy initiatives.
Meanwhile, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said 130 countries have agreed on a minimum 15 percent global tax rate on large multinational enterprises (MNEs).
MNEs are companies with a global turnover above 20 billion euros and profitability above 10 percent (i.e. profit before tax/revenue).
In a recent statement, the OECD said the agreement by 130 countries represents more than 90 percent of global GDP.
Earlier in June, Group of Seven (G7) countries had backed a global minimum tax of at least 15% as part of a broader push by Joe Biden’s administration to create a “fair and inclusive” international economy.
The new global taxation rate will ensure that large corporations pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and earn profits to keep such firms from dodging taxes by shifting their profits to countries with low rates.
“Pillar One will ensure a fairer distribution of profits and taxing rights among countries with respect to the largest MNEs, including digital companies,” the international organisation said in a document.
“It would re-allocate some taxing rights over MNEs from their home countries to the markets where they have business activities and earn profits, regardless of whether firms have a physical presence there.
“Pillar Two seeks to put a floor on competition over corporate income tax, through the introduction of a global minimum corporate tax rate that countries can use to protect their tax bases.
“The two-pillar package will provide much-needed support to governments needing to raise necessary revenues to repair their budgets and their balance sheets while investing in essential public services, infrastructure and the measures necessary to help optimise the strength and the quality of the post-COVID recovery.”
Janet Yellen, US treasury secretary, said, “Today is an historic day for economic diplomacy. Lower tax rates have not only failed to attract new businesses, they have also deprived countries of funding for important investments like infrastructure, education, and efforts to combat the pandemic.”
“President Biden has spoken about a “foreign policy for the middle class,” and today’s agreement is what that looks like in practice”.
The implementation plan for the new deal is expected to be finalised in October 2021.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has kicked off a three-day training program for 388 personnel aimed at enhancing the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process across the country.
The training, tagged “Refresher Training of Trainers on NIN Integration to the National Social Register: Technical and hands-on devices and field operations and procedures”, is in collaboration with the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office.
The training is also to equip personnel with the necessary skills to efficiently handle the complexities of enrolment processes
In her address at the event held in Port Harcourt on Monday, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director-general and chief executive officer, NIMC, noted that the initiative aligns with the commission’s overarching goal of achieving secured and great success for the Renewed Hope social initiatives.
Represented by Adedapo Adedoyin, her technical advisor on ICT, the NIMC DG said the event is a pivotal initiative that marks a significant step forward in our mission to enhance and modernize the National Identification Number enrolment process across Nigeria.
She stated, “Today, I am pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive training program aimed at refreshing the technical and operational skills of the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office State Operations Coordinating Unit and NIMC staff.
“This initiative focuses on practical and field-based exercises, ensuring that our teams are well-equipped to handle the complexities of enrolment processes with precision and efficiency.
“This initiative aligns with our overarching goal of achieving secured and great success for the Renewed Hope social initiatives. Through verified digital identification, we aim to improve the lives of Nigerians by providing them with access to essential services and opportunities that require a reliable and secure identity verification system”.
Coker-Odusote explained that the training program will be conducted in two batches, encompassing four states: Kwara, Nasarawa, Kano, and Rivers. A total of 388 attendees will participate in this initiative, including 225 NASSCO State Operations Coordinating Unit representatives, 35 NIMC facilitators, and 128 State support staff.
She added, “The sessions are meticulously designed to foster knowledge sharing and hands-on experience with NIMC’s enrolment device and software, ensuring that our personnel are adept at using these tools to their full potential.
“By empowering our teams with enhanced skills and practical experience, we are setting the stage for more efficient and accurate NIN enrolment processes across the nation”.
Coker-Odusote further said the training program “is a crucial step toward achieving the World Bank’s Identification for Development Initiative target of enrolling 180 million Nigerians with secure digital IDs.
“By bolstering our technical and operational capabilities, we are ensuring that NIMC is well-positioned to meet and exceed this target, thereby contributing to the global vision of inclusive and accessible digital identification for all”.
The NIMC boss8 called for collaboration between all stakeholders saying, “As we embark on this journey, I urge all participants to embrace this opportunity for growth and development.
“Together, we can build a robust and efficient National Identification System that will serve as the cornerstone for Nigeria’s social and economic progress.”
Kaspersky experts have uncovered a new phishing scam targeting businesses that promote their pages on Facebook. Scammers send emails allegedly on behalf of Meta for Business – Facebook’s platform for businesses – claiming the recipient’s page contains prohibited content.
The email suggests users provide explanations in order for their account and page to be unblocked. The goal of the attackers is likely to get access to users’ business accounts.
Kaspersky’s anonymised data shows that such emails started reaching users on 14 December 2024, with complaints coming from organisations all over the world, including the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa.
By examining the “From” field in the email it can be seen that the domain does not belong to Facebook. According to Kaspersky data the emails that this campaign used were sent from different domains.
The link in the email redirects users to Facebook Messenger. On Messenger, the account posing as Facebook’s support team appears legitimate, creating a false sense of trust.
There is an indication that this is a fan page, but it is easy to miss in a situation of high stress after being accused of spreading illegitimate content.
This scheme stands out for its sophistication. Unlike earlier scams that accused users of copyright violations and directed them to respond via email, this approach simulates internal communication on the Facebook platform itself.
“In 2025, we anticipate a rise in attacks leveraging social engineering and user trust in major platforms. Scams like this are becoming more sophisticated as attackers strive to mimic official services closely.
“Users must remain vigilant, verify the authenticity of messages, and avoid clicking on suspicious links. We strongly advise users not to engage with suspicious accounts and to activate additional security measures, such as two-factor authentication.
“If you receive such an email, report the incident to Facebook’s support team and update your passwords immediately if any information has been compromised,” comments Andrey Kovtun, Email Threats Protection Group Manager at Kaspersky.
Lagos State government and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) are joining forces to revolutionise e-commerce logistics in Nigeria’s economic capital.
The collaboration aims to enhance last-mile delivery and optimise connectivity within Lagos and beyond.
During a courtesy visit to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ms. Tola Odeyemi, postmaster-general and CEO of NIPOST, highlighted the strategic importance of Lagos in driving innovation in the e-commerce sector.
“As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, Lagos leads the charge in this growth. Through enhanced postal and logistics services, we seek to empower small businesses and individuals engaging in this expanding sector,” Odeyemi said.
She underscored her commitment to fostering partnerships that would align NIPOST with the demands of a modern economy, identifying Lagos as a pivotal partner.
Lagos is central to achieving our vision of efficient and future-ready postal services, she added.
Odeyemi applauded Lagos state for its vibrant programmes that drew global attention during the December festivities, stating that such initiatives could drive further economic growth and diaspora engagement.
She pledged enhanced postal and logistics support to drive e-commerce growth and empower small businesses in Nigeria., highlighting NIPOST’s readiness to collaborate with Lagos State to enhance last-mile delivery, foster innovation, and improve public service delivery.
Lagos, as Nigeria’s economic hub, is a critical partner in our vision to make NIPOST’s services more efficient and relevant in today’s world, Odeyemi stated.
She commended Lagos State for its strides in infrastructure and governance, underscoring the importance of strategic partnerships to optimize connectivity within Lagos and nationwide.
Governor Sanwo-Olu challenged NIPOST to rethink its approach and embrace technology as a transformative tool for business facilitation.
“For NIPOST to remain relevant, you must challenge the status quo, revamp your services, and adopt innovative strategies that address today’s needs and anticipate future demands,” the governor advised.
He also pledged Lagos state’s support in upgrading NIPOST’s infrastructure to improve service delivery and create an enabling environment for seamless e-commerce operations.
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