Economic Sustainability Plan Archives

Africa receives $29.5 billion annually in climate financing as opposed to the $277 billion it needs - Osinbajo

In a bid to stimulate the Nigerian economy, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the NG-CARES programme implementation with the ...

Buhari’s economic policies under Osinbajo have been a success – Akande

by Faith Dafe-Joseph

January 10, 2022

As we step into an election year, it is important to access the government of the day noting how much ...

Economic Sustainability Plan creating jobs for social housing – Vice President

by William Ukpe

October 12, 2021

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo revealed that under the Social Housing Scheme of the Economic Sustainability Plan, thousands of jobs have ...

Vice President Osinbajo says cashless policy will help track election financing

Osinbajo decries CBN’s delay in disbursement of funds for ESP projects

by Ubah Jeremiah Ifeanyi

October 12, 2021

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed disappointment with the Central Bank of Nigeria's delay in disbursing funding for essential projects ...

NEC launches Ease of Doing Business report

Economic Sustainability: 6.39 million farmers tagged and enumerated – Osinbajo

by William Ukpe

October 12, 2021

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that 6.39 million farmers under the N2.3 trillion Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) agriculture scheme ...

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

by William Ukpe

July 6, 2021

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

Buhari, FG committed to overhauling Nigeria's Oil and Gas Industry- Buhari

GDP growth, evidence of successful execution of economic sustainability plan – Buhari

by William Ukpe

June 13, 2021

President Buhari has said that Nigeria's exit from recession is evidence of the successful execution of the economic sustainability plan ...

FG’s Social Housing: 2000 hectares mapped out in 24 States – Osinbajo

by William Ukpe

May 10, 2021

Osinbajo revealed that 17 states have shown interest in the Solar Power Programme, an important aspect of the Economic Sustainability ...

Reps to probe FG’s N3.4 billion failed solar power project

Osinbajo flags off ESP solar program, N140 billion to be provided for developers

by Chike Olisah

April 9, 2021

This scheme is part of the Federal Government’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) to deliver 5 million connections to off-grid communities.

NIPC to launch Single Window Investors Portal by 2021

by William Ukpe

December 22, 2020

Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission has stated that its investors' portal will be available by the first quarter of 2021.

Tag: Economic Sustainability Plan

FG debuts NG-CARES with World Bank’s $750 million loan

Buhari’s economic policies under Osinbajo have been a success – Akande

Economic Sustainability Plan creating jobs for social housing – Vice President

Osinbajo decries CBN’s delay in disbursement of funds for ESP projects

Economic Sustainability: 6.39 million farmers tagged and enumerated – Osinbajo

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

GDP growth, evidence of successful execution of economic sustainability plan – Buhari

FG’s Social Housing: 2000 hectares mapped out in 24 States – Osinbajo

Osinbajo flags off ESP solar program, N140 billion to be provided for developers

NIPC to launch Single Window Investors Portal by 2021

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