Business
50% telecom tariff hike: NATCOMS backs decision as NLC bows to FG’s pressure

The Nigeria Labour Congress has bowed to pressure to halt its planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunication tariff hike.
Also, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers backed the decision by the organized Labour.
The NLC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday night.
In the MoU signed by the SGF, Senator George Akume, NLC president Joe Ajaero, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and the National Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, both parties agreed to set up a technical committee to resolve gray areas in the 50 percent telecom tariff approval.
However, NLC reiterated its rejection of the tariff hike.
“Arising from the meeting convened by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the proposed 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs in the country, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed strong opposition to, citing its potential negative impact on the Nigerian workers and the economy with a threat to proceed on a one-day nationwide mass protest, the following resolutions were reached:
That there is a need for the parties to sit together in a technical group to resolve most of the thorny areas raised during the discussion; consequently, a 10-man joint committee was set up of five (5) representatives each from the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); and the committee shall conclude and submit its deliberations within two (2) weeks from this 3rd day of February, 2025.
“The parties call on the Nigerian people to remain calm while this committee concludes its assignment,” the communique after the meeting stated.
Earlier, a civic society organisation known as the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, NCSCN, had announced the suspension of its planned protest against the 50 percent tariff hike.
Recall that last week, NLC announced Tuesday, 4th February, 2025, as a date for a one-day mass protest against the telecom tariff hike.
In a notice last Thursday by NLC National Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union had already asked the state congress and affiliate union to mobilise for Tuesday’s mass protest.
This comes after the Nigerian Communications Commission on January 2025 approved a 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike for operators.
The approval has sparked tariff hike controversy in Nigeria’s telecom sector.
NLC and other telecom subscribers had opposed the tariff implementation, citing the persistent economic hardship Nigerians already face.
Subscribers back nationwide protest suspension
On Monday, the National President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo recommended suspension of the nationwide protest against the 50 percent tariff hike.
According to Ogunbanjo, the protest would hinder investors’ confidence and negatively impact investment in the sector.
NATCOMS had suggested that the government should review the 50 percent telecom tariff to 10 percent.
“NLC shouldn’t conduct mass protests that will affect investors’ confidence.“
The telecom sector has been a leading example in the country.“
NLC should not protest; that would send in wrong signals to investors. They should allow civility to reign in the telecom sector.
“That is why we are supporting only a 10 percent tariff hike for operators. If that is not enough, they should look elsewhere for capitalisation.
Mobilie Network Opertors such as MTN, Airtel. GLO had earlier said that it would soon implement the new tariff hike.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, ‘Bosun Tijani, had cited rising global inflation as justification for the 50 percent telecom tariff hike approval.
The hike would see the cost of recharging calls and data and other telecom services increase by 50 percent.
Recall that the last time NCC hiked telecom tariffs was in 2013.
Business
MTN Nigeria moving headquarters to Eko Atlantic
As part of this commitment, we have acquired a piece of land in Eko Atlantic City, and we will commence construction once we have gotten the equipment,” said Toriola

MTN Nigeria is relocating its corporate headquarters from Falomo- Ikoyi, to the Eko Atlantic City.
MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, disclosed this during the MyLagosApp launch event in Lagos, yesterday. Toriola said that the company’s new headquarters will be situated in Eko Atlantic, four years after it announced plans to build a new head office.
MTN will be the first telecom operator to build in the coastal city, signaling confidence in its potential as one of the premier business hubs in Nigeria. “Beyond connectivity, we are committed to making long-term investments in Lagos.
As part of this commitment, we have acquired a piece of land in Eko Atlantic City, and we will commence construction once we have gotten the equipment,” said Toriola.
He added that MTN Nigeria is also constructing West Africa’s largest Tier 4 data center in Lagos.
The facility will house 1,500 racks and operate as a carrier-neutral hub, allowing multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and cloud service providers to interconnect.
Toriola said that the data center will not be situated within Eko Atlantic but on the Lagos mainland.
“With seven degrees of connectivity, this facility will be the most sophisticated data hub in the region, further strengthening Nigeria’s position as a leader in digital transformation,” Toriola said.
Business
NESG Urges Diversion of Nigeria’s Trade Amidst U.S and China Tariffs War
Given Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported manufactured goods and raw materials, NESG warns that the country could face significant economic challenges if these trade tensions escalate further

▪︎Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has stressed the need for Nigeria to divert its trade pattern towards countries that are unaffected by the U.S. tariffs.
The NESG made the call in its latest Foreign Trade Alert: 2024Q4 & Full Year 2024.
The report highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability to global trade disruptions, particularly in its import-dependent industrial sector.
“The trade war between the U.S. and China needs to be hedged against. This would reduce tariff-induced increases in import bills, considering that the country’s import-dependent non-oil industrial sector is highly vulnerable,” the report noted.
The United States imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports in February 2025, with plans to increase it by another 10% in April.
In retaliation, China announced additional tariffs of 10-15% on certain U.S. imports starting March 10, 2025, along with a series of export restrictions targeting designated U.S. entities.
These measures are expected to disrupt global supply chains, slow world trade growth, and drive up the prices of globally traded commodities.
Given Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported manufactured goods and raw materials, NESG warns that the country could face significant economic challenges if these trade tensions escalate further.
China remained Nigeria’s largest trading partner in Q4 2024, followed by India, Belgium, the U.S., and France.
The most imported commodities during the period included refined petroleum products, sugar cane, and spare parts.
However, Nigeria’s reliance on imports, particularly from China, makes it susceptible to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions stemming from the U.S.-China trade conflict.
Business
Tax Reform Bills: Reps retain 7.5% VAT, reject increase to 15% by 2030
The House also dismissed a proposal to reintroduce inheritance tax under the guise of taxing family income.

The House of Representatives has retained Value Added Tax (VAT) at 7.5 percent, rejecting a proposed gradual increase to 15% by 2030.
The House also dismissed a proposal to reintroduce inheritance tax under the guise of taxing family income.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, during today’s plenary, stated that the submitted report represents a comprehensive review of the bills, incorporating extensive public input.
The report covers four key bills aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s tax framework: Nigeria Tax Bill Nigeria Tax Administration Bill Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill Key Amendments in the Tax Reform Bills Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Bill .
The NRS will now focus on federal-level revenue collection, excluding individual taxpayers in states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Board Composition: Section 7 now requires six executive directors, each appointed by the president from the six geopolitical zones on a rotational basis.
Each state and the FCT will also have a representative on the board.
Secretary Qualifications: Section 13 mandates that the Secretary to the Board must be a lawyer, chartered accountant, or chartered secretary at the level of Assistant Director or higher.
Fixed Funding Rate: The NRS will now receive a 4% cost-of-collection rate (excluding royalties), subject to National Assembly approval.
Borrowing Powers Restricted: Section 28 now requires Federal Executive Council (FEC) and National Assembly approval before the NRS can secure any loans.
Joint Revenue Board (JRB) Bill Tax Appeal Commissioners’ Criteria Revised: Section 25 removes the requirement that commissioners must have business management experience, as the Committee deemed it irrelevant.
Strengthened Tax Ombud’s Independence: Section 43 mandates that the Tax Ombud’s Office be funded directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, eliminating reliance on external donations.
Independent Funding for Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT): The tribunal will now operate independently of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to prevent conflicts of interest.
Stricter Adherence to the Evidence Act: New rules ensure that tax appeal proceedings strictly follow the Evidence Act.
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Processing:
The timeline for issuing TINs has been extended from two working days to five to accommodate administrative delays.
Faster Tax Returns for Ceased Operations: Companies ceasing operations must now file income tax returns within three months, down from six months, to prevent revenue loss.
VAT System Adjustments: Section 22 ensures that taxable supplies are attributed to their place of consumption, addressing regional imbalances.
VAT Fiscalisation System: Section 23 introduces a new regulatory framework to improve VAT collection.
Increased Reporting Thresholds for Banking Transactions:
Individuals: ₦25 million → ₦50 million Corporate Entities: ₦100 million → ₦250 million
Judicial Oversight on Asset Seizure: Section 60 mandates that tax authorities must obtain a court order before seizing movable assets.
Mandatory Electronic Taxpayer Records Access: Section 61 formalizes the government’s right to access electronically stored tax records in line with modern practices.
New VAT Revenue Distribution Formula: 70% distributed equally among local governments 30% based on population .
General Amendments Across Tax Bills VAT Rate Maintained at 7.5% –
The Committee rejected the proposal to gradually increase VAT to 15% by 2030. Petroleum Gains Tax Reduced to 30% – Section 78 revises the tax rate on petroleum gains from 85% to 30%.
Excise Duty Provisions Removed – Excise duty-related provisions were deleted due to concerns about their negative economic impact.
Higher Turnover Threshold for Small Companies:
A business will now be classified as a small company if its annual turnover is ₦100 million or less (asset cap remains at ₦250 million).
New Penalties for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs):
Stricter fines and potential license suspensions for non-compliant crypto and digital asset businesses.
While submitting the report, Rep. Faleke highlighted the importance of the tax reform bills in modernizing Nigeria’s tax system, boosting revenue collection, and fostering economic growth.
“These Bills are critical to implementing a modern, transparent, and efficient tax system that will support economic growth and improve revenue collection,” he said.
He added that the review process was extensive, incorporating input from the public and key government agencies, including: Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
“We carefully examined every submission to ensure that public opinion was reflected in our recommendations. This process involved a thorough review of existing laws proposed for repeal or amendment,” Faleke noted.
The amendments impact key laws, including: Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) Value Added Tax Act (VAT Act) Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act Petroleum Industry Act Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Act
The House of Representatives is expected to deliberate on the report in the coming weeks as part of its legislative process.
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