The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged local governments and states across the country to reduce the taxes imposed on telecom companies.
According to the NCC, excessive taxes would hamper the industry’s growth and discourage foreign investment.
The NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Wada Maida, noted that telecom operators are already subjected to 50 to 55% taxes, making it challenging to attract foreign investments.
To address the issue, NCC management is embarking on a nationwide advocacy campaign to appeal to stakeholders to reduce levies, such as Right of Way charges and multiple taxes imposed on telecom operators.
Maida added that the commission had developed a strategic vision based on five pillars to drive the telecom industry and ensure it continued contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as expected.
He also addressed the quality of services from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), saying the commission would adopt a total consumer experience approach to address the challenges.
Furthermore, he advised consumers complaining about data depletion to consider the types of handsets they use, the services available, and the digital services they enjoy without considering cost implications.
