By Ghazali Ibrahim
In a move expected to reduce the financial burden on millions of mobile users across the country, the Federal Government has officially revoked the 5% excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria.
The tax, which was initially introduced during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, had applied to both voice calls and data services. Its implementation had drawn widespread criticism from telecom operators, industry stakeholders, and consumer rights groups, who argued that it placed an unfair cost burden on users and risked stifling digital inclusion.
Announcing the reversal, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, revealed that President Bola Tinubu ordered the removal of the tax during deliberations on the newly passed Finance Act.
According to Maida, the decision aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to ease economic pressure on Nigerians and support growth within the digital economy.
The revocation is expected to bring direct relief to more than 171 million active telecom subscribers, many of whom have struggled with higher service costs following a 50% tariff hike earlier this year.
