FG has suspended 5% excise duty on telecom services, says Pantami

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

The suspension was announced by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, on Monday during the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Committee on Excise Duty for the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja.

According to the minister, the telecommunications sector is already overburdened by excessive and multiple taxation.

The Federal Government through the Budget Office of the Federation had earlier revealed that it would begin the implementation of its proposed excise duties on telecommunication services and beverages in 2023.

However, Pantami has maintained that he is against the implementation of this tax, which would increase the cost of telecommunication services for Nigerians.

According to The Punch, Pantami announced this on Monday during the inaugural meeting of the presidential committee on excise duty for the digital economy sector in Abuja.

The minister said the sector is already overburdened by excessive and multiple taxations.

 Pantami  had  faulted the government’s plan to implement the tax.

But Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, had insisted that the federal government would go ahead to implement the five percent excise duty on telecommunications services.

Ahmed noted that all relevant agencies, including the communications ministry, were informed of the implementation of the tax as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Against the comments by Isa Ali Pantami, honourable minister of communication and digital economy, concerning the five percent excise duty hike on telecoms services, it is worth noting that there was a circular stating the planned hike which was addressed to the communication minister and other relevant ministries and agencies of government,” she had said in a statement issued by the ministry.

“The circular Referenced No. F. 17417/VI/286, dated March 1, 2022, and titled “Approval for Implementation of the 2022 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments” was addressed to different ministers, including the honourable minister, communications and digital economy and other heads of government agencies.”

The finance minister also faulted Pantami’s disapproval, adding that he was involved in the Finance Act.

Yunusa Abdullahi, media aide to the finance minister, declined to speak on the matter.

“The statement is not from the finance minister and cannot speak on it,” he told