Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national
planning, says federal government is on course to implement the five percent excise
duty on telecommunications services.
The development is coming despite criticism over the
implementation of the tax.
Last week, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and
digital economy, faulted plans to implement a five percent excise duty on telecommunication
services in Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, Yunusa Abdullahi, spokesperson
to the ministry of finance, budget and national planning, quoted Ahmed as
saying at a stakeholders’ meeting, organised by the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC).
Ahmed, represented by Musa Umar, assistant director, tax
policy, federal ministry of finance, budget and national planning, noted that
all relevant agencies, including the communications ministry, were informed of
the implementation of the tax approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Against the comments by Isa Ali Pantami, honourable
minister of communication and digital economy, concerning the five percent
excise duty hike on telecoms services, it is worth noting that there was a
circular stating the planned hike which was addressed to the communication
minister and other relevant ministries and agencies of government,” the
statement reads.
“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
the honourable minister, communications and digital economy and other heads of
government agencies.
The minister further faulted the minister’s disapproval,
adding that he was involved in the Finance Act.
“In view of the above position of Prof. Pantami, there could
be the question of whether he was absent in the whole process that resulted in
the Finance Act, which is a product of both the National Assembly and Federal
Executive Council (FEC),” the statement adds.
“Suffice this to say that before the Act, the Finance Bill
would have been through the FEC of which Prof. Pantami is a member and the
National Assembly. In other words, he was involved in the making of the Finance
Act, which spells the said excise tariff hike policy.
“Therefore, he could not obviously have had a point in his
dissenting views even as the national assembly could not have contradicted
itself on this matter because the parliament had passed the Finance Bill before
President Muhammadu Buhari signed it into law.
“Although Nigeria is
celebrated as the largest economy in Africa, translating this wealth into
revenues remains a challenge. Considering this in line with the provision of
the revised National Tax Policy, which provides the framework for a sustainable
tax system that would ensure reliable sources of revenue to government and
support economic development.”
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