SERAP Threatens Legal Action, Gives Tinubu Govt 48 Hours to Reverse 50% Telecom Tariff Hike
By Okafor Joseph Afam | January 22, 2025
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reverse the 50% tariff hike approved for telecom operators by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). SERAP argues that the tariff increase will exacerbate poverty, discrimination, and financial burdens on economically vulnerable Nigerians.
The Nigerian Communications Commission, in a statement on Monday, announced its approval for telecom providers, including MTN and Airtel, to increase tariffs for calls and data by up to 50%. Reuben Mouka, the NCC’s spokesperson, explained that the decision was driven by rising operational costs and aligns with the commission’s regulatory powers under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Mouka noted that while some operators initially requested a 100% hike, the commission settled on a 50% cap. He added that the tariffs had remained unchanged since 2013, despite significant cost increases in the telecom sector. Operators are also required to educate the public on the new rates and demonstrate measurable improvements in service delivery.
In response, SERAP issued a statement via its X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, demanding an immediate reversal of the hike. The organization threatened legal action should the government fail to comply within 48 hours.
“The Tinubu administration and telcos must immediately reverse the unlawful increase in calls and data costs. We’ll see in court if the 50% tariff hike is not reversed within 48 hours,” SERAP stated.
The advocacy group stressed that affordable communication is a fundamental right and that the government has a legal obligation to ensure telecom operations do not hinder citizens’ rights.
SERAP’s statement further emphasized its readiness to challenge the policy in court, citing its detrimental impact on Nigerians already grappling with economic hardship.
This development sets the stage for a potential legal battle between SERAP and the Tinubu administration over policies that many argue disproportionately affect Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
