The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a new levy on phone calls in the country to pay for free healthcare for the country’s vulnerable group.

This is mentioned in the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022, which President Muhammadu Buhari announced on his Twitter handle on Thirsday, 19th May, 2022, that he had just signed.

The telecom tax, which is set at a minimum of one kobo per second for phone calls, is one of the sums needed to support free healthcare for Nigeria’s vulnerable Group. 

The act includes a provision under Section 26 subsection 1c which states that the source of money for the Vulnerable Group Fund includes telecommunications tax, not less than one kobo per second of GSM calls.

According to the act, vulnerable group includes, children under five, pregnant women, the aged, physically and mentally challenged, and the indigent.

Story: Ralia Adama

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