THE DECISION by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a 50% hike in telecom tariffs has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, with the Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation describing it as “a punitive blow to already burdened Nigerians.”
The tariff increase, which affects call rates, SMS charges, and data costs, comes at a time when citizens are grappling with severe economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Executive Director of the Grassroots Centre, Armsfree Ajanaku, decried the NCC’s action as being more aligned with the interests of telecommunications companies than the Nigerian public.
“The NCC’s role should be to ensure Nigerians enjoy world-class telecom services, not to sanction arbitrary price hikes while services remain unreliable and substandard,” the statement read.
The new tariff structure will see call rates rise from N11 per minute to N16.50 per minute, while SMS costs are expected to increase from N4 to N6. Data charges will also climb, with the price of one gigabyte projected to jump from N350 to N431.25.
This, Ajanaku argued, represents yet another financial strain on Nigerians, who are already contending with higher fuel prices and electricity tariffs.
“Does the current quality of service justify such a steep increase? Nigerians are plagued by dropped calls, poor network coverage, and internet glitches.
“Instead of prioritizing service improvement, the NCC appears to have succumbed to pressure from telecom companies seeking to maximize profits at the expense of ordinary citizens,” Ajanaku said.
Although NCC justified the hike by citing rising operational costs faced by telecom operators, including inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and increased diesel prices, the Grassroots Centre contends that these economic challenges were largely triggered by government policies and should not be passed on to consumers.
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“This hike is a classic example of Nigerians being punished for the government’s missteps,” Ajanaku added.
“It is unjust for citizens to bear the brunt of poorly implemented economic policies that have already pushed many households to the brink.”
The Grassroots Centre is also calling for immediate action to address what it terms “the abysmal quality of telecom services” in the country.
“Where is the NCC’s roadmap for ensuring seamless and efficient services? Without such a framework, this tariff hike is nothing but a license for telcos to profiteer without accountability,” the statement emphasized.
The organisation has demanded an immediate reversal of the tariff hike and the introduction of a robust strategy to improve service delivery in the telecom sector.
“Nigerians deserve a telecom industry that supports economic growth and improves lives, not one that prioritises profits over service,” Ajanaku noted.
