TELECOMMUNICATION SUBSCRIBERS VOW TO CHALLENGE PROPOSED FIVE PERCENT EXCISE DUTY ON TELECOMS SERVICES

Telecommunication subscribers, under the aegis of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, have vowed  to challenge the legitimacy of the proposed five percent excise duty on telecoms services in court. According to them, the excise duty on telecom services, which will translate to an extra five percent consumption tax on calls, SMS, data, and other telecom services, was insensitive and will further impoverish consumers whose purchasing power had been weakened in recent times.

President of the association, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, while commenting on the recent allegation by the Ministry of Finance that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy was aware of the excise duty on telecoms services. Speaking at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo, Isa Pantami had said the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is not satisfied with effort to introduce excise duty on telecommunication services. Commenting on this, Ogunbanjo said the Minister of Finance insistence on implementing the excise tax, shows insensitivity particularly when the substantive minister of the affected sector is pushing back.