• FG cancels 5% excise duty on mobile calls and internet data
• Move to ease rising communication costs for Nigerians
• NCC confirms policy shift under new Finance Act
The Federal Government has abolished the 5% excise duty on telecommunications services, a levy that had applied to voice calls and internet data.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) announced the decision on Thursday via its official X account, confirming that the tax introduced during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has been cancelled.
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Telecom operators and consumer rights groups had long opposed the policy, warning that it would worsen the financial burden on citizens already battling high inflation and rising living costs.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the removal of the levy during deliberations on the newly signed Finance Act.
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“This is a clear signal that the government is listening to the concerns of Nigerians and is committed to making communication more affordable,” Maida stated.
The cancellation is expected to reduce the cost of mobile calls and internet usage, bringing relief to millions of subscribers across the country.
