The Federal Government has revoked the 5% excise tax on telecommunications services in Nigeria, a move expected to reduce financial pressure on millions of mobile users.

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

The tax, which applied to both voice calls and data, had faced widespread criticism from industry stakeholders and consumer groups since it was introduced under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The decision is set to benefit over 171 million active telecom users nationwide, many of whom were affected by a 50% tariff increase earlier this year.