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 delivery improves.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance presented by Rep. Obuku Offorji during plenary on Tuesday.
Offorji recalled that after a stakeholders’ meeting on January 8, the minister had revealed that telecom operators were pushing for a tariff hike, with some suggesting increases as high as 100 percent. While the minister clarified that the increase would not reach 100 percent, he mentioned that the NCC would approve and announce the new tariffs in due course.
Criticising the justification given by telecom operators, Offorji pointed out that they cited the cost of investment, the need for better networks, and the growing demand for digital services in sectors such as education, banking, and healthcare.
“The telecommunications companies have been advocating for the hike for the last 11 years, according to the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). They argued that the telcos need cost-reflective tariffs in the face of adverse economic reality like a record inflation of 34.6 percent in November 2024 and losses resulting from foreign exchange fluctuations,” he explained.
Offorji also highlighted opposition from the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, which condemned the proposed increase as “insensitive” and a further burden on consumers who are already struggling with economic hardship and poor service quality.
“It is imperative that the telecommunications companies improve on their service delivery, which Nigerians have been yearning for, before embarking on the increase in their tariffs,” he added.
Warning of the broader implications of the proposed price hikes, Offorji stressed that they could deepen financial struggles for the average Nigerian, undermine efforts to use technology for economic revival, worsen poverty, and widen existing inequalities. He emphasized the importance of affordable connectivity for progress in sectors like digital banking, education, healthcare, agriculture, and e-governance, noting that informal workers, who rely on affordable mobile data, could face difficulties staying connected.
This debate comes after widespread outrage following MTN’s announcement of a significant price hike in its 15GB data plan. The cost reportedly tripled overnight, rising from ₦2,000 to ₦6,000 without any prior notice.
