Tinubu Scraps 5% Telecom Excise Duty to Ease Burden on Nigerians
The controversial duty, first introduced in 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had faced widespread criticism over its potential impact on subscribers and the broader economy.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC ), Dr. Aminu Maida, has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has completely removed the 5% excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Maida said the levy, which was initially suspended in 2023, has now been permanently scrapped under the new tax laws. He recalled that Tinubu personally rejected the idea during discussions, insisting it should not be imposed on Nigerians.
The controversial duty, first introduced in 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had faced widespread criticism over its potential impact on subscribers and the broader economy.
Maida explained that the removal of the tax will ease cost pressures on consumers and support the growth of Nigeria’s telecom sector, which remains central to digital inclusion and economic activity. He also highlighted ongoing reforms focused on transparency, accountability, and consumer protection, including a public network performance map to be released in September.
With over 172 million active telephone subscribers, 141 million internet users, and 105 million broadband users, Maida said the NCC is working to strengthen corporate governance and position Nigeria’s telecom sector for global competitiveness.
