The Association of Telecommunications. Information Technology, Cable Satellite Network Operators and Allied Services Employers of Nigeria (ATICEN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the NYSC Trust Fund Bill.
According to the union, the bill would further put more financial burden on the employers in the telecoms industry and organised private sector.
In a statement, the union’s President, Comrade Adede John Williams, said the NYSC Trust Fund should be added to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to enable more people benefit from it.
He said: “Consequently, it is important to understand that the provision of Section 4 (1) (a) and (b) of the bill requiring companies to contribute a levy of one per cent of their net profits before tax to the Fund is a welcome development. However, it is going to be too much for the telecoms industry and ICT sub-sector. Considering that there are other taxes.
“We are using this opportunity to further call on the NYSC Board to re-route the bill to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), because it is large enough to accommodate the initiative that the NYSC Trust Fund has in stock for the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
“The proposed Fund aims to provide sustainable funding for the monthly allowances of Corps members, skill acquisition, training, and empowerment of NYSC personnel, development of orientation camps, and such other purposes connected with the attainment of the objectives of the bill.’’
To the makers, the association advised: “We equally call on the two chambers of the National Assembly to look inward when passing bills that have to do with Trust Funds because it’s the employers that suffer the brunt.’’