Residents in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have strongly rejected the reintroduction of a TV and radio licence tax, questioning the fairness and timing of the levy.
Many residents of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have voiced strong opposition to the enforcement of a newly revived television and radio licence fee by the area council. They decried the move as “ill-timed” and insensitive to the economic hardship faced by ordinary citizens.
A demand notice issued by the council mandates that owners of radio, television, or similar devices pay the licence within 21 days, or face court action or closure of premises. The by-law classifies payers by type: Category D (residential dwellings) incurs fees between ₦3,500 and ₦20,000 annually, while corporate and medium businesses are in higher brackets.
Angry residents questioned the rationale behind the levy. “Honestly, this is surprising! How can you ask me to pay for the television I’m using in my office or waiting room? … What service are you rendering in that regard?” lamented Mr John Achungu. Mrs Zainab Muhammad added, “The same AMAC will bring the tenement rate, bring this, bring that; how many taxes are they going to collect from us?”
Defending the tax, AMAC’s Supervisory Councillor for Special Duties, Emmanuel Inyang, insisted the levy is constitutional and pre-existing, and that enforcement had merely lapsed until now. He pledged that a public enlightenment campaign would follow.