FG INTENDS TO RAISE THE TAX ON TOBACCO GOODS TO 50%

As part of efforts to reduce cigarette smoking in the country, the Federal Government said it will raise the excise tax on tobacco goods from 30% ad valorem to 50%.

Dr Mangai Malau, Head of the Tobacco Control Unit in the Federal Ministry of Health's Noncommunicable Disease Division, said this on Tuesday during the National Tobacco Control Budget Advocates Meeting in Abuja.

Malau delivered a paper titled "Overview of Tobacco Control Budgeting and Financing in Nigeria: Why Tobacco Control Budgeting and Funding?"

He stated that the Federal Government currently placed a 30% tax on tobacco products, but that the goal was to raise it to 50% in order to fulfill World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

According to him, tobacco control funding must come primarily from taxation, and essential stakeholders must correctly utilize tax measures if the country's tobacco control challenges are to be addressed.

"In effectively controlling tobacco and tobacco products in Nigeria, funding is a critical component. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) recognises this and clearly stipulates it in Article 26.

"It states that parties shall provide financial support in respect of its national activities intended to achieve the objective of the Convention, in accordance with its national plans, priorities and programmes.

"It is also important to state that funding is a major provision of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act.

"Section eight of the Act, provides for the Tobacco Control Fund, which shall be used to fund tobacco control activities programmes and projects," Malau said.