Elder Statesman and Dean, Borno Elders Forum, Prof. Khalifa Dikwa said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was blackmailed into making the cybersecurity levy policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
Dikwa stated this in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday.
He said, “These forces can’t be seen and rely on intimidation to get their bidding done while saying the Tinubu administration is blackmailed into making these policies.
“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 which has elicited negative reactions from Nigerians.
Honourable Manu Soro, who moved a motion on the floor of the house on Wednesday, had explained that the levy was coming at the wrong time, considering the current living conditions of Nigerians.
The lawmaker had argued that the National Security Adviser is a political office, and has no mandate to manage accruals.
However, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, urged the lawmaker to step down the motion to allow the leadership of the House to deliberate on how best to address the situation.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), had described the planned cybersecurity levy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on all electronic transactions as another burden on Nigerians.
According to a circular issued to various financial institutions, including commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, the apex bank indicated that the levy would come into effect in two weeks from May 6.
The levy’s introduction has sparked widespread criticism among Nigerians and civil society organisations.
Rejecting the policy, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said such deductions directly affect the disposable income of workers, and further diminish the purchasing power of the common citizens.
He said the directive is another gang up by the ruling elite, to continue its extortion and exploitation of helpless workers and the masses.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress recognises the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age,” the statement reads.
