- Subscribers demand NCC reduce 50% telecom tariff hike to 10%.
- NATCOMS criticizes NLC protests, urges dialogue to resolve issues.
- NLC plans telecom service boycott, slams government for neglecting citizens.
Subscriber advocacy groups have issued an ultimatum to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), demanding a reduction of the recently approved 50 per cent telecom tariff hike to 10 per cent by Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) and the Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria have expressed concern about the financial strain the tariff hike imposes on Nigerians but criticized the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for planning protests.
The NCC’s tariff adjustment, the first since 2013, raised the cost of phone calls from N6.40 to N9.60 per minute.
Telecom operators had initially pushed for a 100 per cent increase due to inflation and high operational costs, but the NCC settled for 50 per cent. Advocacy groups argue that a smaller adjustment would balance the financial needs of operators and the public. NATCOMS President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, disclosed ongoing discussions with the NCC, emphasizing a preference for dialogue over confrontation. Ogunbanjo warned that if no resolution is reached by January 29, the group will take legal action.
Speaking on Friday, NATCOMS, President Adeolu Ogunbanjo, disclosed that there had been an engagement with the NCC as he hoped the regulator would respond next week.
“We have made our appeals to the NCC, and we are giving them time to respond. We prefer not to involve the press just yet, but if we don’t hear back from them by Wednesday, we will release a communique outlining the details of our discussions with them and start filing our lawsuit.
“Our engagement with the NCC has been centred on asking them to bring the tariff down to our desired 10 per cent. However, we won’t disclose the contents of our letter or the specifics of our discussions unless we don’t receive a favourable response by Wednesday. If that happens, we will pursue the matter in a civil manner, potentially taking legal action,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Sina Bilesanmi, National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers, defended the tariff hike, noting it was necessary to prevent the collapse of the telecom sector. He criticized the NLC for intervening in telecom matters, urging the union to focus on labor issues. Bilesanmi also stressed the need for improved service delivery despite the higher charges.
In contrast, NLC President Joseph Ajaero accused the Federal Government of prioritizing revenue generation over citizens’ welfare by supporting the tariff hike. Speaking on Arise TV, Ajaero criticized the government for aligning with private telecom companies while ignoring the plight of Nigerians struggling with rising living costs. He described the hike as disproportionate, particularly for low-income earners, and called for local production of telecom equipment to reduce costs.
The NLC has announced plans for a nationwide boycott of telecom services to protest the hike. Ajaero argued that telecom services are a basic necessity, with workers spending about 10 per cent of their income on charges, and urged the government to strike a balance between corporate and public interests.
