The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is seeking deeper collaboration with the Office of the Tax Ombudsman to address multiple taxation and tax disputes affecting telecommunications operators.
This is as the regulator pushes for a more predictable and business-friendly operating environment.
Aminu Maida, NCC’s executive vice chairman, disclosed this on X after a meeting with the Tax Ombudsman and John Nwabueze, chief executive of the office of the Tax Ombudsman,
According to Maida, the discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between both institutions to improve the ease of doing business in the telecommunications sector.
He said the two institutions agreed to work together to address multiple taxation and other tax disputes in the sector, with the objective of ensuring that disputes are resolved more quickly and harmoniously.
“At the @NgComCommission, we see the Tax Ombudsman as a key partner to build a sector that works better for everyone,” Maida said in a post on X.
The engagement comes against the backdrop of a longstanding fiscal challenge for Nigeria’s telecom industry, where operators have repeatedly raised concerns about overlapping taxes, levies, regulatory charges and fees imposed by different levels of government.
Over 40 taxes and levies
Research by the NCC found that mobile network operators in Nigeria face more than 40 different taxes and levies imposed by state governments.
The sector was facing more than 54 different taxes, including environmental and ecological levies, capital gains tax and withholding tax.
The discrepancy in the numbers highlights that there is no single, universally accepted number of taxes confronting a telecom operator because the burden varies according to location, the type of infrastructure deployed and the government authority imposing the charge.
The problem is not the statutory tax rate but the accumulation of taxes, levies, permits, fees and charges across federal, state and local government levels, alongside overlapping enforcement responsibilities.
Historically, telecom operators have faced general corporate taxes alongside sector-specific obligations and charges relating to infrastructure, business premises, signage, environmental compliance, right of way and other activities.
The multiplicity of charges can create conflicts between operators and different tax authorities, while inconsistent Right of Way charges across states have also complicated infrastructure deployment.
Why multiple taxation matters for telecoms
Network operators must continually invest billions of naira in fibre, base stations, spectrum, transmission infrastructure, data centres and other equipment to maintain and expand coverage.
Every additional tax or levy therefore competes, directly or indirectly, with capital that could otherwise be deployed into network expansion.
The NCC has previously described multiple taxation as a major obstacle to sustainable development in the industry.
KPMG has identified high and multiple taxes, including Right of Way charges, as impediments to the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
Where taxes and charges increase operating costs, operators have fewer resources available for network investment.
Some costs may be reflected in consumer prices, particularly when operators are already dealing with inflation, energy costs, foreign-exchange pressures and expensive network equipment.
Where the Tax Ombudsman comes in
The meeting between the NCC and the Tax Ombudsman is significant because the office was created partly to provide an independent channel for resolving taxpayer complaints.
The Federal Government said the Tax Ombudsman is responsible for receiving, reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters and related issues.
It is also mandated to ensure that disputes are handled efficiently, impartially and without unnecessary confrontation.
The office, headed by Nwabueze, began full operations in January 2026 following his appointment under the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025.
The Tax Ombudsman can identify recurring problems in the tax administration system and recommend systemic changes.
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