Business
FG debunks claims of plans to introduce telecoms, fuel taxes
The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to introduce new taxes on telecommunications services and petroleum products, saying the claims are false and misleading.
The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement signed by Maryann Duke, senior special assistant on communications and press secretary to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.
It said the reports, which linked the proposed taxes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV Consultation on Nigeria, do not reflect its position.
According to the government, the recommendations contained in the IMF report are advisory and do not constitute policy decisions or binding actions for Nigeria.
“The Federal Government is not considering the introduction of any new taxes on telecommunications services or petroleum products,” the statement said.
Fuel tax rules remain unchanged.
The government also clarified that existing tax arrangements on petroleum products remain in place.
It said the Value Added Tax (VAT) waiver on fuel has not been removed and is still active.
It also explained that any fuel surcharge can only take effect through a ministerial order published in the Official Gazette, adding that no such action is being considered.
According to the statement, the current arrangements have helped cushion the impact of global fuel price changes on Nigerian households and businesses.
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Telecoms excise duty
On telecommunications, the government said the excise duty introduced before 2023 has already been repealed under the new tax laws.
It added that the tax is, therefore, no longer in force.
The ministry urged Nigerians, media organisations and businesses to disregard claims about new telecoms and fuel taxes.
It said Nigeria’s tax policy remains focused on improving revenue collection, supporting economic growth, and attracting investment, rather than increasing the tax burden on citizens.
The ministry added that any future tax changes would be communicated through official channels and implemented strictly in line with due process.
FCMB Group deployed a mix of strategies, including top-line expansion and cost management, to deliver a 90.5 per cent increase in net profit for the six months to June, compared with a year earlier, the latest accounts of the bank holding company published on Monday showed.
Gross earnings climbed to N676.2 billion from N529.2 billion, with 88.8 per cent of it solely contributed by interest and discount income, setting the scene for the big earnings boost, which was partly driven by a reduction in some major expenses.
Cost-to-income ratio dropped to 41.4 per cent from 57 per cent one year prior, strengthening earnings.
FCMB Limited, the group’s commercial banking division, continued to dominate performance across key income streams and accounted for more than three-quarters of post-tax profit.
The other divisions, including Credit Direct, its consumer lending business that offers payroll-based loans to customers, are all currently profitable, contributing their share to the bottom line.
The financial institution managed to scale back interest expense by 2.7 per cent (N6.8 billion), even as interest and discount income rose by up to 31 per cent, attributable to an improved low-cost deposit mix and lower cost of funds.
That was a lever for a jump in net interest income from N207.4 billion to N356.3 billion.
In a separate statement on Monday, FCMB Group highlighted the role of its digital business – comprising payments, lending and wealth – in driving turnover growth. It noted that digital revenue, at N89.1 billion, added 13.2 per cent to gross earnings due to volume growth.
“Our first-half performance demonstrates the strength of our recapitalised and diversified business model,” said Ladi Balogun, the CEO.
“We delivered record profitability despite accelerating the normalisation of asset quality towards regulatory thresholds, reflecting our commitment to building a stronger balance sheet for long-term growth,” he added.
Net fee and commission improved by almost one-third, enabled by both a rise in fee and commission income and a drop in related expenses.
Net trading income took a blow from sharply weaker bond and treasury bills trading income, falling 65.7 per cent year on year.
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Likewise, impairment losses quickened to N85.9 billion from N36.2 billion, as the provision for other losses, apart from those on loans and advances, surged 2,427.6 per cent to N48.1 billion.
Profit before tax roughly doubled to N157.3 billion, while profit for the period stood at N139.9 billion, up from N73.4 billion in the same period last year.
Mr Balogun assured that return on equity will surpass 25 per cent this year, compared with 21.1 per cent for the financial year 2025.
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