By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has condemned the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent directive to impose a 0.5% cyber security levy on electronic transfers.
This was contained ia a statement signed by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Muhammad Ishaq said this decision is ill-timed and insensitive policy, set to be implemented within the next two weeks, will only serve to exacerbate the financial woes of Nigerian citizens who are already grappling with economic hardship.
He said, the new levy will have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable sections of society, including hardworking individuals, families, and small business owners.
” It is particularly distressing to note that the funds collected will directly benefit the National Security Adviser’s office without any obligation for transparency or accountability in the utilization of these funds”.
The PRP questioned the rationale behind this policy, as it appears to be yet another instance of the government extracting additional resources from its citizens without providing any tangible benefits in return.
According to the statement, the ongoing struggles of Nigerians, including skyrocketing food inflation, fuel scarcity, depreciating currency, and general insecurity, make it clear that the imposition of this levy is heartless, callous and unjust.
The PRP called upon the CBN and the Nigerian Government to immediately rescind this policy and instead focus on implementing measures that genuinely address the pressing concerns of the citizens.
It also urged the authorities to prioritize policies that promote economic growth, job creation, and equitable distribution of resources rather than imposing additional burdens on an already overburdened populace.
The party therefore, demanded that, the CBN immediately retracts this misguided directive and seeks alternative, more inclusive solutions to safeguard the financial well-being of Nigerians.
It reiterated that it stands in solidarity with the citizens of this great nation and remain committed to fighting for a fairer and more prosperous future for all.
