The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee of Health Care Services, Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu and Hon. Samuel Adejare, have expressed their support for the carbonated drinks tax.
The National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition (NASR) has continued to advocate for an increase to the current tax on sugary beverages.
A 10 naira per litre excise tax on sweetened, carbonated and non-alcoholic beverages was passed in the 2021 Finance Act but the coalition is calling for an increase to the tax because it says the tax rate is not high enough to lead to a significant reduction in consumption and make a noticeable health impact on type 2 diabetes and heart disease which are caused by drinking sugary beverages.
The coalition in a statement issued by one of its representatives, Omei Bongos-Ikwue in Abuja on Wednesday, quoted both Sununu and Adejare speaking when the NASR representatives visited the National Assembly complex recently.
On his part, Sununu advised the coalition to extend its advocacy to the House Committee on Finance, as well as to the Senate, with the advocacy message that more funds, including SSB tax revenue, should be allocated to healthcare services provision.
He commended the efforts of the National Action on Sugar Reduction for its unflagging efforts, and promised to investigate the current use of tax funds, which the Nigerian Customs Service has been collecting since July 2022.
Also speaking, Adejare emphasised the health implications of consuming carbonated drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages, adding that sugary beverages are the most significant source of added sugar in the diet and leave consumers at risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke and type 2diabetes.
He stated that the beverage industry claims of people losing their jobs “is a lie,” stressing that tax contributions amount to a paltry sum compared with industry profits.
The coalition representative, Shirley Ewang, commended the members of the House of Representatives on their support to health policies in the country.
During the visit, the coalition presented the House members with copies of an open letter calling on the Minister of Finance to increase the current 10 naira per litre excise tax to 20% of the final retail price in the 2022 Finance Act.
