The federal government has rejected reports suggesting it was considering or had adopted new taxes on telecommunications services and petroleum products, clarifying that the recommendations contained in the IMF’s Article IV Consultation Report on Nigeria were assessments and suggestions for the government’s consideration and did not constitute government policy.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the government said the reports had misrepresented the content of the IMF report and did not reflect its policy direction. It said all decisions on tax matters were taken through established constitutional and legislative processes guided by national priorities and prevailing economic realities, not by IMF recommendations.
The government said the value added tax waiver on petroleum products remained in place and had not been withdrawn, and that while existing legislation provided for a fuel surcharge, such a measure could only take effect through a ministerial order and publication in the official gazette, a process that was not under consideration. The continued suspension of these charges, it said, had helped cushion the effect of global energy price fluctuations on households and businesses.
It also clarified that the telecommunications excise duty introduced before 2023 had been repealed under the new tax laws and was therefore no longer applicable. The government said any future tax measures would be announced through official channels and implemented in line with the law, and that its emphasis remained on expanding economic activity, closing revenue leakages, and improving efficiency rather than placing additional burdens on citizens.
