President Tinubu Permanently Removes Controversial 5% Telecom Tax in Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has permanently removed the controversial 5% excise tax on telecom services in Nigeria, aiming to ease financial strain on both firms and consumers. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Aminu Maida, announced the decision, which was first suspended in 2023 and now formally eliminated due to updated national tax legislation.

Consumer advocacy organizations and stakeholders had strongly opposed the tax, arguing that it would increase prices and threaten the survival of struggling telecom operators. Restoring the excise duty was deemed to impair service affordability and hinder sector growth, especially at a time when reliable internet access is crucial in Nigeria.

The National Assembly had proposed reinstating the tax as part of a larger measure, but the move was met with resistance from industry players. The NCC responded to subscriber demands by implementing a new plan to increase industry regulation and improve service transparency to boost customer confidence.