Federal Government, on Thursday, insisted that Nigerians must pay more for telephone calls and data usage.
FG’s position is inspite of stakeholders and consumers’ vehement criticisms and opposition to its proposed five percent tax hike on telephone calls and data.
The full implementation of the hike by the FG will see Nigerians paying 12.5 percent tax on calls and data, with 7.5 percent being the Value Added Tax currently being charged.
Tanko Yususa, media aide to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, in a statement quoted the Minister as saying five percent excise duty on calls and data would earn government more revenue.
Yunusa said the minister gave the government’s position at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The Minister, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Tax Policy, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Musa Umar, stated, “The five percent excise duty has been in the Finance Act 2020, but has never been implemented.
“Henceforth, the five percent excise duty will be collected by telecom operators and payment made to the Federal Government on a monthly basis, on or before 21st of every month.”
Ahmed insisted that a circular addressed to the communication minister and other relevant ministries and agencies of government was issued stating the planned hike.
The circular Referenced No. F. 17417/VI/286 dated 1st March 2022, and titled “Approval for Implementation of the 2022 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments” was addressed to different Ministers, including Minister, Communications and Digital Economy and other heads of government agencies.
The circular was also said to have been addressed to The Secretary To The Government of The Federation, Attorney-General of The Federation, Ministers of Industry, Trade an Investment, Agriculture and Rural development, Mines and Steel and Development.