The Federal Government has scrapped the 5% excise duty on voice calls and data services, reversing a policy introduced under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The move, confirmed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive during deliberations on the recently passed Finance Act.
Industry stakeholders and consumer groups had long opposed the tax, arguing it would worsen the cost burden on Nigerians already facing a 50% tariff hike earlier this year.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in a statement on its official X handle, said the revocation is expected to bring relief to more than 171 million active subscribers across the country.
The excise duty, first announced in 2022, was intended to boost government revenue but was widely criticized by telecom operators under the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and consumer rights advocates.
Leave a comment