The Federal Government has revoked the 5% excise tax previously imposed on telecommunications services in Nigeria, with the step expected to ease cost pressures for millions of mobile users.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu directed the removal of the tax during discussions on the recently passed Finance Act.

The tax, which was intended to apply to both voice calls and data, had drawn widespread criticism from industry players and consumer advocates since its introduction under the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The development is expected to bring relief to over 171 million active telecom users across the country, many of whom have faced a 50% tariff increase implemented earlier this year.