The Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation has strongly condemned the recent decision by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a 50% increase in telecom tariffs. The organization argues that this hike, which was implemented without considering the severe economic struggles Nigerians are currently facing, is unjust and unfair.
Armsfree Ajanaku, the Executive Director of the group, expressed his dismay in a statement released yesterday. He criticized the NCC for bowing to the demands of telecommunications companies, which he claims have long provided unreliable and erratic services to Nigerians. According to Ajanaku, Nigerians continue to suffer from dropped calls, poor internet connections, and frequent service downtimes, while the regulatory body turns a blind eye.
Ajanaku further pointed out that the NCC’s defense of the hike, based on the argument that telecom tariffs have remained stagnant since 2013 despite rising operational costs, does not hold water. He questioned whether the current quality of service justifies such an increase, especially given the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
“Does the current quality of service on offer justify any hike whatsoever?” Ajanaku asked. “Even considering the rising cost of inflation and exchange rates, a 50% tariff increase seems excessive, especially at a time when Nigerians are struggling with soaring prices of basic goods and services.”
He also highlighted that the NCC’s role should focus on ensuring that telecom companies provide top-notch services, rather than enabling them to profit from a market that is already plagued by poor service delivery. Ajanaku argued that the increase in operational costs, including fuel prices and exchange rate fluctuations, was a result of government policies, and Nigerians should not bear the brunt of these policy failures.
With this tariff hike, Nigerians will now be paying N16.50 per minute for calls, up from N11. The cost of sending an SMS will rise from N4 to N6, and the cost of 1GB of data will increase to N431.25 from N350.
Ajanaku condemned the hike as extortionate, accusing telecom companies of profiteering at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. He called for the reversal of the tariff increase and demanded that the NCC provide a clear plan to ensure improved telecom services.
The Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation has urged the NCC to immediately develop a framework that holds telecom operators accountable for providing efficient, reliable services that meet the needs of Nigerians. Only with such a service-driven approach, the group argued, can Nigeria’s telecom industry contribute to the country’s economic development, rather than merely serving the profit-driven motives of a few telecom giants.