Outrage as Nigerians Drag NCC to Court Over Controversial 50% Telecom Tariff Hike"

By Achimi Muktar

A storm is brewing in Nigeria’s telecom sector as frustrated subscribers and advocacy groups take legal action against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over its approval of a 50% hike in call and data tariffs. The battle, which has drawn national attention, comes after failed negotiations between the NCC and consumer rights groups demanding a more moderate 10% increase instead.

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), representing 157 million Nigerians, has announced it will sue the NCC for disregarding their plea to reconsider the tariff hike. The association’s President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, revealed on Tuesday that the NCC failed to respond to their demands within a three-day deadline, leaving subscribers with no choice but to take legal action.

“We gave them until the end of the day (Tuesday) to respond. Since they have not, we are moving forward with the court process starting Wednesday,” Ogunbanjo stated.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also joined the legal battle, filing a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The group argues that the tariff hike is unconstitutional, unfair, and unreasonable, violating Nigerians’ right to communication and access to information.

In the lawsuit FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, SERAP is requesting an interim injunction to block the NCC from implementing the tariff hike, arguing that the unilateral increase violates citizens' economic rights.

While subscribers protest, key government agencies and telecom operators argue that the hike is necessary to sustain the telecom industry, which has faced rising inflation and currency volatility over the past 12 years.

Finance Minister Wale Edun, speaking at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, defended the hike, stating that telecom operators are struggling to keep up with operational costs.

“There has been a rise in costs, inflation, and forex fluctuations, and this needs to be reflected,” Edun said, adding that better service quality should accompany the price increase.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) backed the government’s stance, saying that outdated infrastructure and high operational costs make a tariff adjustment inevitable.

“Many systems in the telecom sector require urgent upgrades,” said ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayor, adding that telecom firms want to provide better services, not increase costs unnecessarily.

Despite the backlash, telecom giants MTN and Airtel argue that the hike is necessary to sustain operations and improve service quality.

MTN Nigeria’s CEO Karl Toriola described the tariff adjustment as a “significant milestone” that will boost digital transformation and allow for critical investments in network expansion.

Airtel Nigeria’s CEO Dinesh Balsingh echoed similar sentiments, stating that the hike will drive innovation, bridge the digital divide, and expand coverage for millions of Nigerians.