In what is an indication of a deepening divide within the nation’s banking industry, members of the boards of the nation’s banks, under the aegis of Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN), at the weekend distanced themselves from the controversial views of some bank chairmen expressing support for the Federal Government’s proposed foreign exchange windfall tax.
The association said views by some chairmen in support of the tax are personal opinions that do not represent the stance of the entire banking community, stressing that its official position will be made known after a board meeting scheduled for August 12, 2024.
Mustafa Chike-Obi, BDAN Chairman, who made this clarification via his X (formerly Twitter) account, noted: “I have read the personal views of some bank chairmen on the windfall tax issue. Those views do not represent the banking community. BDAN will communicate its views after our board meeting on the 12th, on this and other very important issues concerning our community.”
Recall that some bank chairmen have voiced support for the recent amendment of the Finance Bill, which retrospectively imposes a 50% levy (approved at 70% by the National Assembly) on foreign exchange (FX) gains reported by banks in their 2023 annual financial statements.
Some prominent supporters of the proposal include Femi Otedola, Chairman of FBN Holdings, who endorsed the new policy of the Bola Tinubu administration, while accusing bank officials of profligacy and extravagance, including the purchase and maintenance of private jets.
According to Otedola in a recent statement: “Nigerian banks are spending an estimated $50 million annually just on maintaining private jets, with over $500 million spent on purchasing nine private jets by four banks.
“This level of extravagance significantly erodes public trust in our financial institutions and diverts crucial resources away from vital areas such as operational efficiency, technological innovation, and customer service,” he added.
Also, his counterpart at the United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu while also expressoing support for the move, saying it is aimed at alleviating poverty in the country, following which there was a need to “democratize prosperity for Nigerians, ensuring access to a good life for all.”
According to Elumelu, “We support the government’s intention to alleviate poverty with the windfall tax, but we also believe that no one segment should suffer, and the government should continue to create jobs while businesses thrive.
“‘Mutual prosperity is key – prosperity for business owners, ordinary Nigerians, and foreign and local investors. Everyone should be happy. I’m pleased with the meeting’s outcome, and I hope for a better and happier society going forward,” Elumelu said at a meeting between the government and banking sector representatives last week Wednesday.
Elumelu and Group Chief Executive of FCMB, Ladi Balogun led the representatives of banks to the meeting which discuss the windfall tax described as “amicable, knowledge-based, and data-driven” by Finance Minister Wale Edun.
Edun at the meeting noted that President Bola Tinubu was actively engaged in the discussion.
The Finance Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, stipulates in Section 2, subsection 31(a) that the Federal Inland Revenue Service “shall assess the realized profits, collect, account, and enforce payment of tax payable under section 30.”
This is in accordance with the powers of the Service under the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007. Section 31(b) further allows the Service to enter into a deferred payment agreement with assessed banks, provided that such an agreement is executed on or before December 31, 2024.
Unlike oil sector windfall taxes, which result from external economic factors like a major rise in international oil prices, the Nigerian FX windfall tax is the consequence of an internal government decision to harmonize exchange markets, thereby devaluing the domestic currency. This has led to a restatement of corporate comprehensive incomes for the previous year.
Proshare Research, a financial intelligence company based in Lagos, in its analysis titled “The Pains of A Windfall Tax: Appraising the NASS’s Financial Act Amendment,” explained that Nigerian banks would need to pay tax arrears on liabilities for 2023, requiring a restatement of their accounts by the end of December 31, 2024.
Also, subsection 30 has been revised to extend the implementation period to the 2025 financial year, and according to the subsection, a 70% levy shall be imposed and paid to the benefit of the Federal Government of Nigeria on realized profits from all foreign exchange transactions of banks for the 2023 to 2025 financial years.
The penalty for non-compliance with the Act would be an additional liability of 10% “of the tax withheld or not remitted per annum, and interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria minimum rediscount rate,” as well as imprisonment of the principal officers for up to three years.
