PRESS STATEMENT
7.5% VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) DEDUCTIONS ON VOICE CALLS AND TEXT
TEXT MESSAGES
The office of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr
Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, MCPN has been inundated with
complaints and enquiries concerning the recent 7.5% VAT deductions on voice calls
and text messages, by some Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
While we appreciate the support and efforts of well meaning Nigerians who have
Sought clarifications in a civil manner, we wish to inform the general public that the
issues of VAT, do not fall under the Ministry’s purview. The office of the Honourable
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is not mandated to handle VAT.
In the same vein, we also wish to notify the general public that contrary to popular
opinion in some quaters, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy had no prior consultation or awareness about the develpment. All further
enquiries and clarifications may henceforth be directed to the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS), being the proper institution for tax matters.
The Honourable Minister assures all Nigerians that under his leadership, the interest of all Nigerians will be protected.
Signed Uwa Suleiman (Mrs Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Communications & Digital Economy 6 February 2020
