FG suspends 5 percent tax on calls and data

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed excise duty on telecommunication services.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of a committee that will review the policy.

Pantami said he personally rejected the policy and advised President Muhammadu Buhari against it in view of the effects it would have on the digital economy.

The Minister who revealed that the National Assembly members were not consulted, added that the introduction of excise duty in the telecommunication and information and communications technology industry would jeopardise the successes already recorded within the industry.

Also disclosing that the ICT sector is over-burdened with multiple taxations both at the federal and state level, Pantami further revealed that there are more than 41 taxes that telecommunication and ICT companies are paying and that it would be unfair to subject them to payment of excise duty.