The House of Representatives has called for the immediate suspension of the recently implemented 50% increase in telecom tariffs, citing the financial strain on Nigerians.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by lawmaker Oboku Oforji during Tuesday’s plenary.
Lawmakers also condemned the deteriorating service quality provided by telecom operators, insisting that any tariff adjustment should be contingent on significant improvements in service delivery.
As part of its directive, the House instructed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to halt the tariff hike in light of prevailing economic challenges.
This development comes as telecom operators commenced the rollout of the new pricing regime earlier approved by the NCC.
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Many subscribers took to social media to express frustration over a sharp rise—up to 50%—in call, data, and text messaging costs.
According to official NCC data, Nigeria had over 224 million telecom subscribers as of December 2023.
MTN leads the market with 87 million users, accounting for 38.79% of the total share, followed by Globacom and Airtel with 61 million subscribers each, while 9mobile serves 13.9 million customers.
The NCC announced in January that telecom users would experience higher costs for data and airtime, approving a 50% tariff hike.
While some network operators had pushed for an increase exceeding 100%, the regulator said the approved adjustment was a compromise, considering ongoing industry reforms aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability.
The tariff hike was implemented under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which empowers the NCC to regulate pricing within the industry.
The move has sparked opposition from organized labour.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) initially threatened industrial action, demanding a reversal of the hike.
However, they suspended planned protests after last-minute negotiations with government representatives.
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The tariff increase adds to the financial burden on Nigerians, who are grappling with one of the worst economic crises in decades.
The removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira has triggered a steep rise in inflation, worsening the cost-of-living crisis.
Since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, petrol prices have surged from under N200 per litre to over N1,100 in some regions, while the naira has plummeted from approximately N700/$ to N1,600.
Food prices and essential goods have also skyrocketed, further straining households across the country.
