Industry regulatory body – Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) has condemned plan by Federal Government to impose 2% tax on printing machines, computers and other electronic gadgets to debar piracy.
Speaking at a press conference to condemn the proposed plan, President of the Institute – Mr. Wahab A. O. Muhammed Lawal, noted that the government decision would only make it difficult for printers to invest more into the industry thereby encouraging people to print abroad instead of patronizing local press. The multiplier effect of this – he noted would discourage printers from contributing their quota to the Nigerian economy.
According to him, “if the 2% tax imposition stands, printers will not be able to purchase printing machines nor will investors be able to establish new presses. Also the number of jobs printed abroad will increase and this will only further destroy the economy we are trying to salvage”, – asking rhetoritically, “come to think of it, Nigeria has not grown to the level of manufacturing printing machines or any other electronics as such; so why impose tax on what we can’t manufacture here? Why can’t government think about restructuring the paper mill and the textile industry?”
Other CIPPON Council Members like Dr. Anthony Azeez of Rainbow Cards, Mr. Charles Adaramoye amongst others that spoke during the press conference corroborated the President assertion that the government’s decision was like dealing a death blow to upgrade of existing printing presses or establishment of new ones as the decision was counterproductive.
In a related development, Mr. Mohammed Lawal disclosed that part of the plans for 2014 Business Year by the Institute was proper training and retraining of printers for efficiency on their jobs as well as collaborative programmes with other stakeholders to ensure the paper mills were back in operation. He also disclosed that CIPPON was working with other stakeholders to ensure comatose print and allied businesses such as ink manufacturing companies were put back into operation to aid print business survival and profitability.
He noted that since the Institute lack the required and adequate subvention from the government which made it difficult to achieve landmark projects as planned in 2013, CIPPON could only embark on sensitization programmes that educated printers and allied stakeholders on their rights as professionals. He therefore urged members as well as print organisations in the country to collaborate, co-operate and fulfil their financial responsibilities to the Institute to speedily aid the implementation of these programmes.
