- Nigerians sue NCC over 50% telecom tariff hike.
- Advocacy groups say hike worsens economic strain on low-income households.
- Telecom operators cite rising costs, inflation as reasons for hike.
Nigerians are pushing back against the controversial 50% increase in call and data tariffs, with telecom subscribers and advocacy groups taking the matter to court after failed attempts to engage the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
EDITOR’S PICKS
- “Lying Mothers Enable Toxic Sons” – Saida Boj
- Nigeria Now Official Partners Of The BRICS – What Are The Implications Of This?
- Violence Breaks Out as Court Extends Detention of Impeached South Korean President
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) announced plans to sue the NCC for ignoring its demand to reduce the hike to a more manageable 10%.
The tariff adjustment, announced last week, marks the first increase in over a decade and has sparked widespread criticism. Groups like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Labour Congress argue that the hike worsens economic hardships for low-income households and small businesses already grappling with inflation.
NATCOMS, representing 157 million subscribers, had given the NCC three working days to reconsider but received no response, prompting legal action.
NATCOMS President Adeolu Ogunbanjo emphasized the burden the hike places on consumers, particularly those in lower-income brackets. SERAP has also filed a lawsuit, calling the increase “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unfair.”
Meanwhile, telecom operators defend the hike as necessary to sustain operations and improve services, citing rising costs and inflation. However, critics argue that the increase alone won’t resolve the sector’s challenges, including volatile exchange rates and outdated infrastructure.
