By Prosper Okoye, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has stated that it is set to execute the executive orders signed by President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the tax burden on businesses as soon as official communication to implement is received

President Bola Tinubu recently signed four Executive Orders to defer and suspend certain taxes for individuals and companies in the country.

Alake explained that the first Executive Order, the Finance Act (Effective Date Variation) Order 2023, postponed the changes in the Act from May 23, 2023, to September 1, 2023, in compliance with the 90-day advance notice requirement for tax changes outlined in the 2017 National Tax Policy.

Alake further mentioned that the second order, the Customs, Excise Tariff (Variation) Amendment Order 2023, shifted the implementation date of tax changes from March 27, 2023, to August 1, 2023, in accordance with the National Tax Policy.

Additionally, the president issued an order suspending the five percent Excise Tax on telecommunication services and the escalation of Excise Duties on locally manufactured products.

The presidential adviser also disclosed that the president suspended the newly introduced Green Tax, specifically the Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics, which includes plastic containers and bottles. Furthermore, the import tax adjustment levy on certain vehicles was also suspended.

According to the National Customs Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, in an interview DAILY ASSET on Friday, the implementation of these orders will commence once the service receives official communication.

“As public servants, once we receive the official communication, we will promptly implement the orders. There are processes involved, and we will educate the public about the implementation procedures, including the percentage of duty or any waivers for specific commodities,” the spokesperson stated.

Commenting on the recent raise of the exchange rate used for the calculation of import duty from N422.30/dollar to N589/dollar, the spokesperson said that although the service has no hand in the formulation of the policy, it is for the benefit of Nigerians.

“The government represents the people, so whatever the government does is in the interest of the people. It may not be perceived as such initially, but it will be understood later why the imposition of exercise duties is necessary.

“It is a fiscal policy, and I am sure it is not formulated without a scientific basis. It is meant to promote development.

“In the process of doing so, it may seem as if it is not worthwhile. For instance, if you have a fracture and undergo treatment to fix it, you will definitely experience pain during the course of treatment. You may wonder if the pain is intended to harm you, but the answer is no. It is meant to improve your condition and facilitate healing.”

Furthermore, he stated that despite the challenges posed by porous borders, host communities, and non-compliance, the service is diligently enforcing government policies.

“We are responsible for preventing the entry of anything that should not come in. Anything that is strictly prohibited remains strictly prohibited. We also enforce trade restrictions and export prohibitions effectively.”

“Undoubtedly, we face challenges, but we are making efforts to overcome them and find solutions. Despite the obstacles, we are performing to the best of our ability with the resources at hand,” he added.