Telecommunication subscribers, under the auspices of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, have vowed to challenge the legitimacy of the proposed five percent excise duty on telecom services in court.
According to them, the excise duty on telecom services would further impoverish consumers whose purchasing power had been weakened in recent times.
They argued that the proposed tax was insensitive and would translate to an extra five percent consumption tax on calls, SMS, data, and other telecom services.
The President of the association, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, disclosed this to our correspondent while commenting on the recent allegation by the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy was well aware of the inclusion of the five percent excise duty on telecoms services.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo, Isa Pantami said, “The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is not satisfied with any effort to introduce excise duty on telecommunication services.
“Firstly, I have not been consulted officially and part of the rulemaking is to invite stakeholders to make contributions, I was not consulted officially. Secondly, if we have been contacted, we would have challenged the submission.”
Replying to the allegation, the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning said, “Against the comments by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, 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.”
