The House of Representatives (Lawmakers) has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to suspend the recently approved 50% hike in telecom tariffs, citing the economic burden on Nigerians.
The tariff increase, which was approved by the NCC and scheduled to take effect nationwide from Monday, has already been implemented by MTN, while other operators—Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile—have yet to release their revised pricing.
New Telecom Tariff Breakdown
MTN’s new data rates:
- 1.5GB plan: From N1,000 to N1,500 (now 1.8GB).
- 15GB plan: From N4,500 to N6,500.
- 20GB plan: From N5,500 to N7,500.
- 600GB (90 days): From N75,000 to N120,000.
- 1.5TB (90 days): From N150,000 to N240,000.
Executives from MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the tariff adjustments are being rolled out gradually, with some prices remaining unchanged.
Why Lawmakers Oppose the Hike
During Tuesday’s plenary session, Hon. Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa) led a motion titled:
“Need for the Nigerian Communications Commission not to approve the impending hike in telecommunications tariffs.”
Key concerns raised:
📉 Economic Hardship: Inflation hit 34.6% in November 2024, and the removal of fuel subsidies has worsened financial strain.
📶 Poor Network Services: Lawmakers argue telcos should first improve service quality before increasing prices.
💼 Impact on Small Businesses: Higher telecom costs could reduce small business profitability by up to 7%, potentially leading to closures.
💻 Digital Access & Economy: The increase may limit access to affordable connectivity for education, healthcare, agriculture, and digital banking.
Hon. Billy Osawaru (Edo State) criticized the decision, stating:
“Why must the poor always suffer? First, it was electricity tariffs, now telecoms. In developed countries, people don’t carry two phones because of bad service, but here we do.”
Telecom Operators Defend Price Hike
📢 The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) defended the increase, citing:
🔸 Rising operational costs and underinvestment in infrastructure.
🔸 Need for financial sustainability to prevent sector collapse.
ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo stated: “A price review is necessary for the telecom sector’s survival. If underinvestment continues, recovery will be impossible.”
Public Resistance & Legal Threats
⚖️ The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has rejected the hike, demanding a 10% cap instead.
✊ The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also called for a rollback to 5%, threatening protests.
While the NCC insists the hike aligns with Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, pressure is mounting for a policy reversal.