The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn its circular to banks and payment service providers to collect and remit the cybersecurity levy proposed in the Cybercrime Prevention and Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.
This was announced in a revised circular dated 17 May, which was released by the CBN on Monday. The circular was signed by Chibuzor Efobi, Director of Payment Systems Management, and Haruna Mustafa, Director of Financial Policy and Regulation.
Addressed to commercial banks, payment service providers, non-interest banks, and others, stated that the previous, the circular stated that the previous directive had been withdrawn.
The withdrawal follows the decision of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its last meeting to suspend the levy as it has generated public outcry.
“The position of the government is that the policy has been suspended. It has been put on hold. That is the position of the government for now. It is undergoing some form of review.
“So, I can tell you that the cybersecurity levy has been put on hold. It is being reviewed by the government,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said after the meeting.
Background
The CBN had earlier issued a circular to various financial institutions, including commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, indicating that the levy would come into effect two weeks from 6 May.
“The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination, then deducted and remitted by the financial institution. The deducted amount shall be reflected in the customer’s account with the narration, ‘Cybersecurity Levy’.
“Deductions shall commence within two weeks from the date of this circular for all financial institutions and the monthly remittance of the levies collected in bulk to the NCF account domiciled at the CBN by the fifth business day of every subsequent month,” the directive read in part.
The directive sparked a nationwide outcry from Nigerians, who expressed their dissatisfaction and highlighted that banking transactions are becoming increasingly costly due to numerous charges.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Labour Congress had also called for the withdrawal of the directive.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group, amongst others, also urged the federal government to reconsider the levy due to concerns over multiple taxation and inflationary pressures burdening Nigerians.
The Nigerian government, on 15 May, announced the suspension of the proposed cybersecurity levy following widespread public outcry.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had earlier issued a circular to various financial institutions, including commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, announcing the 0.5% cybersecurity levy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement while briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
He stated that the policy had been put on hold and is undergoing review.
“The position of the government is that the policy has been suspended. It has been put on hold. That is the position of the government for now. It is undergoing some form of review,” the minister said.
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The decision to suspend the cybersecurity levy came in response to concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding its timing and potential impact on Nigerians.
The minister emphasised that the matter was discussed during the FEC meeting and will continue to be reviewed in subsequent sessions.
“So, I can tell you that the cybersecurity levy has been put on hold. It is being reviewed by the government,” the minister said.
The announcement brings temporary relief to Nigerian households and businesses who were apprehensive about the implications of the levy.
