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In a major policy shift aimed at reducing the financial strain on consumers, the Federal Government has officially revoked the 5% excise tax previously levied on telecommunications services in Nigeria.
Initially introduced under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the tax applied to both voice calls and data usage. It was met with widespread opposition from telecom operators, industry stakeholders, and consumer rights advocates, who argued that it placed an unnecessary burden on millions of Nigerians.
Speaking on the development, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu ordered the removal of the tax during discussions surrounding the newly enacted Finance Act.
This move is expected to bring much-needed relief to Nigeria’s over 171 million active telecom subscribers, many of whom have already been grappling with rising service costs, including a 50% tariff hike earlier this year.
The removal of the telecom excise tax is being seen as a positive step toward making digital access more affordable and boosting connectivity across the country.
