The Federal Government of Nigeria is reportedly proceeding with its plan to impose a 5% excise duty tax on mobile telephone services, fixed telephone, and internet services, despite a recent communication by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, that the government has exempted the telecoms sector from excise duty tax.

Pantami had earlier expressed his concern that the tax would increase the cost of telecommunication services for Nigerians, especially as the Information, Technology, and Communication sector is already overburdened with excessive and multiple taxations.

The government had earlier suspended the proposed excise duty tax on telecommunication services in 2022 but had inaugurated a committee to review the possibility of introducing the excise duty in the digital economy sector and advise the presidency on the necessary steps to take.

 However, in March 2023, Pantami announced that the government had exempted telecoms from excise duty.

Nonetheless, a recent Fiscal Policy Measures for 2023 via a circular revealed that the government is proceeding with the implementation of the 5% excise duty on telecom services.

The tax will be applicable to mobile telephone services, fixed telephone, and internet services, both postpaid and prepaid.

source; Punchng.com

link; https://punchng.com/fg-dumps-five-per-cent-telecom-tax-waiver/