NANS demands speedy passage of CST, Trust Fund bills

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the speedy passage of the bills for Acts to establish the Communication Service Tax (CST) and a trust fund for unemployed youth, elderly and indigent citizens.

Speaking at news conference in Abuja yesterday, the National president, Comrade Tijani Usman Shehu, who noted that the bills had passed the first reading in the National Assembly, said when passed, they would help enhance the living standard of Nigerians, especially the youths and elderly.

Shehu said 70 per cent of the CST would be paid into the federation account while 30 per cent would go to unemployed youth, elderly and the indigent as sustainability allowance.

“The bill is designed to stop youth restiveness and control crime and lawlessness in our society. Almost 100 percent of all physical crimes and atrocities against citizens and the country are perpetrated by unemployed youths,” he said.

The Trust fund which will be funded with 30 per cent of the total income accruing from the CST, he said is a direct declaration of total war against unemployment and poverty.

He however alleged that trillions of naira of unremitted taxes had been stolen by telecommunication companies going by the fact that there is no automated tax collection system in the country, adding that the CST was designed to legitimately introduce that into the Nigerian communication system.

While noting that CST is not new but had been in practice in other countries, since the advent of GSM, he said MTN, GLO and AIRTEL were already complying with the CST in Ghana and other African countries where they operate.