The Federal Government has suspended the proposed 5% excise duty on mobile calls and data.

The tax was earlier proposed by the Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami made this known in Abuja during the inauguration of the committee that will review the policy.

Pantami noted that he personally rejected the policy as it would have a long term effect if it is allowed to stay.

He added that he appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison the policy owing to the effects it would have on the digital economy.

According to Pantami, the introduction of excise duty in the telecommunication industry would jeopardise the successes already recorded within the industry.

He further noted that a committee which has been inaugurated, will look at the policy critically and advise the presidency. 

The committee has Prof. Isa Pantami as the chairman and the Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed as a member.

Other members of the committee include the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta; the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS), Muhammad Nami and representatives of the telecommunication industries.

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