Nigeria's House of Representatives has said that Bolt and Uber drivers in Nigeria earn up to N120,000 weekly and therefore should pay taxes
A motion
urging the house to probe the tax compliance of commercial transport services
was moved by Hon. Ganiyu Abiodun (APC-Lagos state) Thursday.
Presenting his
arguments in moving the motion, Mr Abiodun argued that ICT-enabled companies
such as Bolt and Uber are now widely used in Nigeria, offering very accessible,
cheaper and lucrative transport services, especially in the urban areas.
“ICT has
created many job opportunities for unemployed persons as the people’s desire
for comfortable ride services have enabled companies such as Bolt and Uber
spread widely across the country,” he posited.
Mr Abiodun further claimed the average weekly
earnings of Bolt and Uber drivers range between N60,000 and N120,000 while the
companies take off 20 per cent and 25 per cent respectively as commission from
the earnings of each driver operating on their platforms.
He noted that
these companies benefit “from facilities of the Federal Government such as road
and security network which grants them ease of doing business.”
He therefore
submitted that they ought to be fully accountable and made to remit taxes to
the federal government as and when due.
The lawmaker said it was not clear whether the
companies were fully compliant with the requirements of the Companies and
Allied Matters Act, considering that the services were online.
The House adoption and reached resolution to setup a committee to investigate whether operators of internet-based ride hailing services pay taxes in accordance with Nigerian laws.
Tthe Deputy Speaker of the house, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the sitting, in his ruling said that the committee, when constituted was to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
(NAN)
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