Fashola dismisses telecoms operators’ claim on multiple taxations

[Mirror]

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday described as unfounded, complaints by telecoms operators that they were being ripped off by the agencies of the state.

The governor spoke while reacting to key telecoms industry issues raised by the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah.

It was during a course visit by the regulator's management to the governor in Lagos.

Fashola said: "What we charge the operators are normal administrative fees which is necessary for them to get in form of permits to get telecoms masts and other infrastructure erected. There is nothing like multiple taxations here."

On the the permit giving to the operating firms to lay their cables for service provision, the governor said: "As a state, we understand the role of telecoms and data in growing the economy of our state and we have been creating ducts along every road we are building for some years now, yet the operators, through their contractors, prefer to dig the roads."

He called for increased level of corporate governance by the operators to follow all rules of doing business, noting that "Operators play hide-and-seek game, they don't want to pay."

Fashola also implored the NCC not to give the operators "safe harbor."

Reacting to a suit between the operators and the state on the allegation that the latter wanted to be playing a telecoms regulator's role, the governor said: "The role of NCC is to issue licences and regulate services, but if the operators build their masts and other infrastructures, we must, as a state, ensure that they are built in line with the public safety. So, that is where we come in."

Speaking earlier, Juwah, who commended Lagos State Government for massive infrastructure deployment to aid economic activities in the state, listed multiple taxation, problem of Row and vandalism, among others as challenges facing operating companies.

He sought the collaboration of the state towards ensuring that robust cooperation exists between the operators, the regulator and the state government.

National Mirror