The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the proposed increase in telecommunications tariffs until service quality improves.
The resolution was passed during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Obuku Offorji. Offorji recalled that after a January 8 stakeholders’ meeting, the minister acknowledged that telecom operators had been pushing for a tariff increase, with some proposing hikes as high as 100 percent.
While Tijani assured the public that the increase wouldn’t reach that level, he confirmed that the NCC would approve and announce the new rates in due time. Telecom operators have cited rising investment costs, network improvements, and growing demand for digital services in critical sectors such as education, banking, and healthcare as reasons for the hike.
However, Offorji pushed back, arguing that these companies have been advocating for tariff hikes for over a decade. He pointed out that groups like the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) claim higher tariffs are necessary due to economic realities such as:
- Record inflation of 34.6% (as of November 2024).
- Losses caused by foreign exchange fluctuations.
The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has strongly opposed the increase, calling it “insensitive” and an additional burden on consumers already struggling with high living costs and poor service quality.
Offorji echoed these concerns, stating:
“It is imperative that telecom companies improve their service delivery—something Nigerians have been demanding—before considering any tariff increase.”
- Lawmakers warned that raising tariffs could:
- Worsen financial hardship for millions of Nigerians.
- Undermine efforts to leverage technology for economic recovery.
- Exacerbate poverty and deepen inequalities.
- Disrupt sectors like digital banking, healthcare, agriculture, and e-governance.
Offorji emphasized that informal workers who rely on affordable mobile data to stay connected could be particularly affected.
