President Tinubu has permanently abolished Telecom Excise Duty in a major relief for Nigerians.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has permanently scrapped the controversial 5% excise duty on telecommunications services, delivering long-awaited relief to millions of Nigerians and businesses in the digital economy.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, confirmed the development during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, stressing that the levy initially suspended in 2023 has now been completely removed under revised tax laws.
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“The 5% excise duty is no longer in effect,” Maida announced. “The President was firm that Nigerians cannot carry this burden, and the directive has now been enshrined in law.”
The duty, which applied to mobile voice and data services, had drawn nationwide backlash from telecom operators, consumer groups, and industry stakeholders, who warned that it would inflate call and data costs while stifling digital access.
President Tinubu first halted the policy in July 2023 through executive orders signed shortly after taking office. But when lawmakers attempted to revive the levy in 2024 as part of wider revenue plans, strong opposition forced a reconsideration.
With this decisive move, telecom users and businesses can now breathe a sigh of relief as the government doubles down on its commitment to reducing multiple tax burdens and strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.
