The Federal Government, through the Budget Office of the Federation, has disclosed that it will begin the implementation of its proposed excise duties on telecommunication services and beverages in 2023.
Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria made the revelation during the maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo organized by the Nigeria Office for Developing the indigenous Telecom Sector.
He said, “The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is not satisfied with any effort to introduce excise duty on telecommunication services.
“Beyond making our position known, we will go behind the scenes and go against any policy that will destroy the digital economy sector. We will go to any extent to legitimately and legally defend its interest.”
On Friday, August 5, 2022, the Budget Office of the Federation, which is under the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, revealed its plan in its ‘2023 – 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.
According to the ministry, this was in a bid to boost its non-oil revenue streams. The minister further said that it expected excise duty revenue to grow exponentially because of the introduction of telecoms service charge.
Explaining one of the strategies that would be implemented to improve Customs’ revenue collections over the period 2023-2025, the office said, “Full implementation of excise duty on telecom services, alcoholic, sugar-sweetened beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products.
“Therefore, excise revenue is expected to grow exponentially because of the introduction of the telecom service charge and SSBs”.
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