Business News

PenCom has developed an online enrollment application for the registration, verification and enrollment of prospective retirees.

Ghana proposes Africa’s first $2 billion social bonds

by Ubah Jeremiah Ifeanyi

Ghana plans to issue up to $2 billion in green and social bonds by November.

Dr Mohammad Abubakar - Minister of Environment

Nigeria has recorded over 4000 oil spills in 6 years – Minister

Nigeria's Minister of Environment has stated that Nigeria recorded 4,919 oil spills between 2015 and March 2021.

FG foreign reserves Nigeria Yemi-Osinbajo, FG negotiates with Governors on bail-out fund, as NEC approves 100 billion for NLTP, bail-out fund States Governors, FG earns N28.6 trillion from VAT, others , Ease of doing Business: States must partner with Federal Government – Osinbajo , AfCFTA: Nigeria’s financial footprints to be extended across Africa – Osinbajo , FG seeks partnership with National Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, here’s why , Osinbajo says FG’s investment to take advantage of Africa’s $200bn tourism potential is massive, Pres. Buhari’s plan to tax US tech companies might provoke US trade war https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/vps-lecture-at-the-national-defence-college-course-28-lecture-event/ https://punchng.com/digital-firms-to-pay-tax-under-new-finance-act-osinbajo-2/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/business/economy/digital-tax-oecd.html Nigeria at risk of trade war with United States as the Nigerian Government says it will impose taxes on technology companies like Facebook, Google, and other digital companies that have been escaping tax payment in Nigeria due to their lack of presence within the country. The US has threatened tariffs on imports from countries that impose such digital taxes. The tech companies with heavy revenue footprint in Nigeria now have their backs against the wall because President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration want to tax them to grow Nigeria’s revenue; which has led to the development of the Finance Act. The Finance Act is the solution of President Buhari to the revenue problem which the Finance Minister, Ahmad Zainab, said Nigeria has. The Nigerian government is looking to grow its revenue through taxes, and one of such is the digital tax which Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said will commence despite the threat of the US which is aimed at protecting the silicon companies. No more back door operation: Facebook, Google, Amazon, YouTube and many more digital businesses have a sizeable market in Nigeria, but don’t have a physical structure for their operations; this has cost Nigeria tax revenue. These companies are known to prefer situating their companies in tax havens where taxes are low compared to other African and European countries. Ireland and Bermuda are some of the tax havens for these multinational companies. But according to Osinbajo, the period of making gains from their operation in Nigeria without paying tax is over. Osinbajo, while speaking at The National Defence College, Course 28 Lecture Event, said that, “Let me also briefly mention the new provisions on Taxation of Digital Economy and Non-Resident Companies. This is a very important aspect of our taxation policy. Before the Finance Act, only companies that had a physical presence or a fixed base in Nigeria could be taxed. “So, most digital companies, I mean any of the big technology companies, or multi-national digital companies, that did not have physical offices in Nigeria, made significant income from Nigeria from online activities, such as advertising, movie streaming, online gaming and e-commerce from subscribers in Nigeria, but paid no taxes whatsoever because they did not have a physical base in Nigeria. So now we are no longer relying on the fixed base or physical address criterion.” He added that, “Under the Finance Act, once you have a Significant Economic Presence (SEP) in Nigeria, you are liable to tax. Whether you are a resident here or you are not resident as a company, as long as your economic presence is significant, you are liable to tax. If you are streaming online, advertising using Google adverts, whether you are resident here or not, you are now subject to tax. “So, non-residents who previously had no fixed base and no Nigerian tax liability will now be liable to tax based on the SEP criterion. The Minister of Finance is empowered to issue a regulation defining what Significant Economic Presence means. So, she just defines the scope of what we will be looking out for in terms of Significant Economic Presence.” Osinbajo explained. Nigeria is not alone in this crusade: Nigeria is not the only country trying to tax these technology companies. The European Union have also been coming after them for taxes. The EU is also stating that if the technology companies are making economic gains through their operation despite the lack of physical presence in several European countries, then the tech conglomerates should be taxed. This has led to review of tax laws by the EU. According to a report by New York Times, new rules to tax these multinational companies are being discussed by about 130 countries through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The review has become necessary as digital economy begins to open new revenue sources. Should Nigeria tread carefully? The United States has threated to hit any country imposing taxes on the technology companies - which are mostly American – with tariffs on import. This put Nigeria at a rather impossible position, as the country is not economically strong enough to enter a trade war or go on a tit for tat battle with the US. According to Q3 report, the US is the fifth biggest export destination for Nigeria, having imported N322.2 billion (6.28%) goods from Nigeria, with crude oil constituting N329.8 billion. Although, the US is behind Ghana, India, Netherlands and Spain, it doesn’t change the significance of the US market to the Nigerian economy. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s top import sources include the U.S, accounting for N747 billion in H1 2019. Franch had moved to tax the online businesses but have now delayed the plan this year after a meeting with the US; the US has also paused its tariff threat against France. Britain is also one of the digital tax drivers. With such threat hanging over the digital tax, it’s unlikely Nigeria will go ahead taxing these technology companies, as US feels such tax is discriminatory against US firms, and have suggested these companies be allowed to decide if they want to operate with the new tax standards., FG will provide succor for daily wage earners as lockdown continues – Osinbajo

Economic Sustainability Plan: 2.1 million jobs have been saved and created all together – Osinbajo

Osinbajo says the introduction of Covid-19 stimulus packages like the Economic Sustainability Plan has been impactful in saving and creating...

Oyo sets up N500 Million fund each for youth entrepreneurs, compensation for victims of police brutality, #EndSARS: State Governors should have necessary powers to control the Police Force - Seyi Makinde, Seyi Makinde Proposes N3 Billion plan for water supply, Makinde, south-west PDP call for resignation of Ayu as PDP national chairman

Politics

State Governors must be informed before security agencies carry out operations – Seyi Makinde

Seyi Makinde has said that if security agencies are to carry out an operation in a state, they must duly...

Fire destroys Smart Card Readers at INEC, Akure ahead of gubernatorial election, Spanish firm to meet Akeredolu over Ondo deep seaport project , Toll gate to be constructed along Akure-Ado road, Akeredolu says,

Open Grazing Ban: Southern Governors set September 1st deadline

The Southern Governors Forum announced yesterday that the deadline set for the Open Grazing Ban is Wednesday, 1st September 2021.

CBN reduces over-the-counter withdrawals to N100k, N500k per week for individuals, companies

Business

CBN to increase development finance interventions to support start-ups and SMEs

by Abiola Odutola

SMEs and start-ups will have more access to finance as they are key to the nation's economic growth.

Communique issued by 17 Nigerian Southern Governors in Lagos

by Abiola Odutola

July 5, 2021

The Southern Governors Forum reviewed the current security situation, constitutional amendment, and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

NIPP, GenCos to halt supply if NBET insists on new service charge, Gencos want Discos’ job as it seeks to sell electricity directly to customers , Nigeria secures $210 million facility to boost power infrastructure,

FG reassures investors, insists on sale of 5 power plants

by Chike Olisah

July 5, 2021

The FG has insisted that the 5 National Integrated Power Plants put up for sale will go on as planned.

CBN health intervention fund gets new interest rate by March 2012, Nigerian banks’ non-performing loans drop significantly by 41% in 2019, External reserves decline by over 8% in 3 months, Nigeria’s external reserves increase by $1.36 billion in 13 days