Pantami backs telecoms operators, kicks against new tax on calls, data

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has condemned renewed attempts by the Federal Government to add a five per cent excise duty to telecommunication services.

Pantami made known his opposition this while speaking in Lagos at the ongoing exhibition organised by the Nigeria Office for Developing the indigenous Telecom Sector, an agency domiciled in the Nigerian Communications Commission.

According to the minister, the telecom sector already contributes a lot to the Nigerian economy, and adding more taxes could impact negatively its growth.

He urged the government to consider taxing other sectors of the economy that are not contributing to national development.

When implemented, the new levy will bring the total tax telecom consumers pay for telecom services to 12.5 per cent.