The federal government has clarified that it is not considering the introduction of new taxes on telecommunications services or petroleum products. This comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised Nigeria to extend value-added tax to fuel products and introduce excise duties on telecommunications services.
In a statement on Wednesday, Maryann Duke, senior special assistant on communications and press secretary to the minister of finance, said reports suggesting the plans or adoption of new taxes were inaccurate and do not reflect the position of the government, and that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government is not considering the introduction of any new taxes on telecommunications services or petroleum products.
Duke explained that the IMF Article IV consultation report contains the fund’s assessments and policy recommendations for consideration by the relevant country, but such recommendations do not constitute decisions of the government of Nigeria nor are they binding on the government.
She stated that the VAT waiver currently applicable to fuel remains in place and has not been withdrawn, and the telecommunications excise duty introduced before 2023 has been repealed under the new tax laws and is no longer applicable, with the government’s focus remaining on improving revenue administration and eliminating inefficiencies rather than increasing the tax burden on citizens.
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