The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to impose a two per cent tax on the values of mobile phones, computers, software, cameras, photocopiers, printing machines and CD players manufactured in the country or imported.
The order for the tax to be known as the Copyright Levy has already been gazetted by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the modalities for its implementation are being negotiated with the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Director-General, Nigeria Copyright Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude, said this at a press conference on the achievements of the agency in Abuja on Thursday.
Ezekude, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Aderemi Adewusi, said the new levy would be on a broad range of products capable of being used to infringe on the copyright of products and services, including computers, mobile phones and printing machines.
Generally, the levy will apply to such products whether they are imported into the country or they are manufactured within the shores of the nation.
The NCC boss said,
“The Copyright Levy on Materials Order 2012 received the necessary approval from the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN.
“The levy order is applicable to all imported materials used or capable of being used to infringe copyright in a work, both imported and manufactured in the country, and it is designed to compensate the right owners for the envisaged infringement.
“It is one of the commission’s ways of generating income for the government, stakeholders and the commission. This was done after due consultation with stakeholders who have expressed satisfaction and appreciation over the levy order.”
http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/fg-imposes-2-tax-on-phones-computers-others/
