Car hire service providers like Uber, Bolt, in-drive, and other technology-based transport companies in Nigeria has been resolved to be investigated by the House of Representatives. An ad hoc committee to was set up by the house to “investigate the level of compliance of all Information Communication Technology aided transport companies with the country’s extant tax laws.” as the panel is to revert back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
The probe was hinged by a motion moved by a member of the house Ganiyu Johnson at the plenary on Tuesday. Johnson noted that ‘’ ICT has made the transportation business very accessible, cheaper, and lucrative especially in the urban areas, and its often regarded as a strategic tool for achieving success and competitiveness in organizations, and a significant impact on the way organizations operate in recent times.
Johnson further added, “The House is informed that the average weekly earnings of Bolt and Uber drivers are about N60,000 to N120,000, while the companies take off 20 percent and 25 percent, respectively, as commission from the earnings of each driver operating on their platforms. The House is cognizant that the companies have benefited from facilities of the Federal Government such as road and security network, which grants them ease of doing business, thus they ought to be fully accountable and up to date in tax remittances.
The area of concern to the House was that as corporate identities, it is not clear whether the companies are fully compliant with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, considering that the services are made online.
Source; Punch