The Federal Government has officially scrapped the 5% excise tax on telecommunications services, a move that is already sparking cheers across the country.
The tax, which covered both voice calls and data, was introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration but faced backlash from industry operators and consumer groups who said it would only worsen the financial strain on Nigerians already battling high tariffs and inflation.
Announcing the reversal, Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), confirmed that President Bola Tinubu directed the removal of the levy during discussions on the recently passed Finance Act.
For context, many subscribers had complained earlier this year when telecom providers hiked their tariffs by as much as 50%, citing rising operational costs. With this new policy shift, the government is hoping to cushion those effects and put more breathing space in the hands of ordinary Nigerians.
Industry experts say the development could bring immediate relief to Nigeria’s over 171 million active telecom subscribers. “This is a welcome step. Consumers have been under heavy pressure, and this decision will help ease the burden,” one telecom analyst told Lens News.
Critics, however, argue that while the removal is positive, deeper reforms are needed in the telecom sector to tackle issues like poor network quality and hidden charges. Still, for now, many Nigerians are celebrating what they see as a long-overdue relief.
