Business

We need to increase VAT rate — Tax expert, Taiwo Oyedele

Published

5 months ago

May 8, 2024

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The presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms says there is a need to increase the value-added tax (VAT) rate, The Cable is reporting.

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the committee, spoke on Monday while disclosing the VAT revenue-sharing formula would be reviewed. He spoke at a policy exposure and impact assessment session organised by the committee.

Nigeria’s VAT rate is currently 7.5 percent. Oyedele also said the committee has proposed reviewing state and local governments’ share of VAT revenue to 90 percent. According to section 40 of the VAT Act, the federal government gets 15 percent of the tax revenue, states share 50 percent, and local governments share the balance of 35 percent.

However, Oyedele said the committee is recommending reducing the federal government’s share from 15 percent to 10 percent. “We are proposing that the federal government’s portion should be reduced from 15 percent to 10 percent. States’ portion will be increased but they would share 90 percent with local governments,” he said.

Oyedele said the committee proposed adjusting the sharing formula for VAT because it is a tax of the states. “In 1986, we had sales tax collected by states. The military came up with VAT in 1993 and stopped sales tax so they said it would collect VAT and return 15 per cent as cost of collection and that is the 15 per cent charged today came about. But we think it is too much,” he said.

The tax expert added that the burden of VAT should be on the ultimate consumer.
“So we must make it transparent and neutral and this is what over 100 countries where they have VAT are doing. Nigeria’s economy is more than 50 percent in services and if I just stop at this, many states will be broke because VAT collection will go down by more than 50 percent and it won’t even fly. [Swipe]

Business

It is illegal for NNPCL to fix price of Dangote petrol – Falana

Published

3 days ago

September 17, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says it is illegal for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to determine the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, for the Dangote Refinery after deregulation.

Falana, who said this in a statement on Tuesday, added that the action of the NNPCL contravenes Section 205 of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.

“On September 5, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) stated that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity had been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) governed by unrestrained market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.

“The NNPCL was explaining the pump price of PMS imported into the country at the material time. Specifically, the Executive Vice President of Downstream NNPC Ltd Mr. Adedapo Segun, explained that Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd, stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by free market forces.

“But contrary to the well-publicised statement, the NNPCL has fixed the price of PMS produced by the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. The action of the NNPCL is a violent contravention of section 205 of the PIA, which stipulates that the prices of petroleum products shall be determined by market forces.

“Furthermore, since the petrol sold by Dangote is not imported into the country but produced at the Lekki Economic Free Trade Zone, the NNPCL cannot justify the sale of petrol at N950 per litre without freight cost, lightering cost, jetty depot fees, storage fees, foreign exchange costs, NPA charges: NIMASA charges, Customs duties etc,” he said.

Falana’s outburst followed the commencement of PMS lifting by the NNPCL from the Dangote Refinery.

DAILY POST recalls that as soon as lifting commenced, NNPCL announced that the product would sell for N950 per litre in Lagos State and its environs, and above N1,000 per litre in states such as Borno.

Reacting, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on Monday, criticised NNPCL, saying it was not right for petrol lifted from the Dangote Refinery to cost higher than imported ones.

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Dangote refinery: Naira transaction for PMS to begin October 1st – NNPC

Published

4 days ago

September 16, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

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The Nigerian government has announced that it will begin paying Dangote Refinery in Naira for petrol supply starting October 1st.

This decision was made after a meeting with the Implementation Committee on the Naira crude oil sale.

The government also disclosed that the Dangote Refinery and other local refiners in Nigeria will begin to buy crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on October 1, 2024.

The NNPC will supply approximately 385,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery, which will be paid for in Naira.

Business

Dangote Refinery plans sea transport for 75% of local supply, targeting Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar

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4 days ago

September 16, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

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Dangote Refinery has announced plans to transport 75% of its local petroleum product supply via sea routes, targeting key locations like Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

This shift to sea transportation aims to reduce the higher costs associated with road distribution.

The refinery has the capacity to load 83% of its products by road, but it is ramping up efforts to evacuate nearly all production by sea.