Tunji Shelle: Cybersecurity levy insensitive to plight of Nigerians

Tunji Shelle, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, says the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on cybersecurity levy is another way of exploiting Nigerians. 

On May 6, the CBN directed deposit money banks in the country to start charging a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions, in line with the Cybercrime Act 2024 as amended.

Speaking with TheCable, the retired navy captain says President Bola Tinubu and his appointees are insensitive to the plight of the masses.

Shelle added that it is worrisome that Nigerians who are going through the hardship of subsidy removal, hunger, and fuel scarcity, are being told that certain amounts will be deducted from their bank accounts when they make transactions.

“I am not surprised by the announcement by the CBN because Nigerians have always been exploited by this government. They have no regards or feelings for the common man at all and they don’t care if the poor continue to get poorer,” he said.

“The man who has N50,000 in his account, is that somebody you should levy cybersecurity fee upon? A man who is earning N30,000 minimum wage and is wondering how he will survive until month end, is that the man you still want to tax cybersecurity levy? These people are just so insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

“It is very easy for someone to say, how much is 0.5 percent? But what they are thinking about is the cumulative amount they will realise from the cybersecurity levy.

“By the time, they collect these 0.5 percent levy from all Nigerians, including the poor masses, it goes into billions of naira.

“They will spend the money lavishly and use it to renovate the national assembly and share the remaining among themselves. The masses will benefit nothing from the amount generated from the levy. We have never had it so bad.”

Shelle added that the Tinubu administration has achieved very little in one year.

“With all the amount used to renovate the national assembly, the lawmakers are even still complaining because a poor job was done,” he added.

“I think people with good conscience should resign from this administration and go and beg God for forgiveness. That is the only thing that can save this country.

“Only gullible Nigerians will continue to see Tinubu as a messiah and man of hope. I can’t pinpoint what he has done for the average Nigerian.

“Almost all Nigerians have lost hope in his government. They are just trusting in God for a miracle to happen.”