Four executive orders have been signed by President Bola Tinubu, one of which suspends the 5% Excise Tax on Telecommunication Services and the Excise Duty Escalation on Locally Made Goods.
This was revealed on Thursday during a press conference at the State House in Abuja by Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy.
He added that the Finance Act (Effective Date Variation) Order, 2023, which delays the start date of the modifications in the Act from May 23, 2023 to September 1, 2023, was also signed by the President.
According to the presidential spokesman, this is to ensure adherence to the 90 days’ minimum advance notice for tax changes as contained in the 2017 National Tax Policy.
President Tinubu also signed The Customs, Excise Tariff (Variation) Amendment Order, 2023, shifting the commencement date of the tax changes from March 27, 2023 to August 1, 2023 and also in line with the National Tax Policy.
Tinubu also ordered the suspension of the newly introduced Green Tax by way of Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics, including plastic containers and bottles as well as the suspension of Import Tax Adjustment levy on certain vehicles.
Alake equally explained that the President issued these orders to ameliorate the negative impacts of the tax adjustments on businesses and chokehold on households across affected sectors.
He however reiterated the President’s commitment to reviewing complaints about multiple taxation, local and anti-business inhibitions.
He also noted that President Tinubu’s administration will, therefore, continue to give requisite stimulus by way of friendly policies to allow businesses to flourish in the country.
The President assured Nigerians that there will not be further tax raise without robust and wide consultations undertaken within the context of a coherent fiscal policy framework.