The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the total removal of the 5% excise duty on telecommunications services under new tax legislation, a move aimed at lowering consumer costs and supporting industry growth.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman of the NCC, disclosed this during a media conference in Abuja last week, explaining that the fee, which had previously been halted in 2023, has now been entirely removed.
“The President was clear that this burden should not be placed on Nigerians, and he has followed through,” Maida said.
The former administration's introduction of an excise duty in 2022 sparked considerable criticism for its potential impact on consumers and companies. President Bola Tinubu first paused it when he took office, citing economic concerns.
Maida emphasised that the telecom sector remained critical to Nigeria's economic and digital objectives. He emphasised that the abolition of this tax is consistent with broader sector changes aimed at increasing openness, accountability, and consumer protection.
Among the activities outlined were a public network performance map, which will be released in September, and quarterly performance reports to improve service quality.
Concerning consumer issues, Maida said a combined NCC-Central Bank of Nigeria task force has devised a new framework to standardise electronic top-up operations, and audits have identified no systemic billing manipulation despite complaints about data depletion.
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