Internet data: MTN dares FG, Labour, subscribers, effects 200% hike

• NLC directs boycott of telecom services

By Damilola Olufemi

In an action aptly described by many stakeholders as hasty and defiant, MTN, Nigeria on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, announced a 200% increase across the board in all its internet data services – a decision that has left millions of its subscribers reeling in emotional pains and anguish.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the sudden hike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers across the country to immediately boycott telecom services.

However, other internet service providers including Globacom, Airtel and 9Mobile are yet to announce any increase in their data tariffs, but prices of their SMS services have been raised from N4 to N6.

Before this recent increase by MTN, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, had disclosed that telecom tariffs would soon increase, but assured that the rise would not be up to the 100 per cent rate being demanded by the telecommunication operators.

“You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation by some of these companies to increase their tariffs. They are requesting for 100 per cent tariff increase. But it will not be by 100 per cent. We are still looking at that their request, and NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.

We want to strike a balance as a government to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly,” the minister said.

Corroborating the minister’s position Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, disclosed that the commission would not okay a 100 per cent rise, adding that the meeting with major stakeholders was about the sustainability of the industry.

He added: “We have taken note of all these factors, and that is why, as the minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve a 100 per cent tariff increase. I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There are still some stakeholder engagements that we are going to hold, but you will hear from us within a week or two.”

The data bundle and airtime hike were, however, increased to 50 per cent.
In a follow-up development, the NCC spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, announced the approval of the increase, saying it was in accordance with Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA). This raised the price of phone calls from N6.40 to N9.6 while the cost of SMS increased from N4 to N6. The average price of calls will be N16.5/minute from N11.

Muoka said, “The adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50 per cent of current tariffs, though lower than the over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability.” 

One of the major telecommunication operators in the country, MTN on February 11, 2025, raised its data and airtime prices by 200 per cent. Announcing the increment on its X handle, the operator said, “Y’ello! Thanks for stopping by, we apologise for any inconvenience and delayed response. A price increase has been implemented to enhance our services and serve you better, which is why you are seeing the updated amount.

According to a report by New Daily Prime, “With the hike, the price of the weekly data package of 15GB which cost N2,000 was raised to N6,000.
Also, the 15GB data bundle of N2,000 now costs N6,000 while the 1.5TB plan was increased from N150,000 to N240,000.

Other affected plans include; the 100GB bundle, which now goes for N25,000 for 90GB, up from the previous price of N20,000 for 100GB. The 600GB bundle has also been raised from N75,000 to N120,000, among others.” Subscribers react

In protest, many telecom subscribers across the country have expressed displeasure over MTN’s sudden hike in its internet services.

“How can they (MTN) just increase prices like that. It’s like they’re taking advantage of us?,” queried a Lagos-based subscriber, Tolani Adebayo.

The price hike has also had a significant impact on small businesses, many of which rely on internet services to operate.

“This is a disaster for us. We can’t afford to pay these new prices. It’s like they’re trying to kill our businesses,” said Emmanuel Ojo, an online business owner in Akure, Ondo State.

He noted that with the price hike, service charges of internet business providers will also increase.

John Okafor, an Abuja resident, said “This is just another example of the greed of telecom companies. They’re making billions of naira in profits, yet they still want to increase prices. It’s unfair.”

In the same vein, a civil rights activist, Adewale Kolapo described the exorbitant hike as a failure of the federal government to regulate the telecommunication operators and called for a reversal of the increase.

“The price hike is a clear example of the failure of the Nigerian government to regulate the telecom industry. We demand that the government take immediate action to reverse the price hike and protect the interests of Nigerians.

”The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has also been criticized for its failure to regulate the telecom industry and protect the interests of consumers.

“The NCC has failed in its duty to regulate the telecom industry. It is time for the NCC to take action,” said Hawau Malik, a Kogi state-based subscriber.

Corroborating earlier subscribers’ indignation to the hike, Mr Ojo Ade, an Ondo state resident added, “the far-reaching effects of these price hikes will deepen financial struggles for the average Nigerian, threaten the country’s vision of leveraging technology to drive economic revival, exacerbate poverty and widen existing inequalities, hitting lower-income families the hardest.

”The skyrocketing data prices in Nigeria have reached a boiling point, with Nigerians from all walks of life condemning the hike as exploitative and unjust.

READ ALSO: ‘We don cast’ – MTN apologises to customers over 200% data price hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers in the country to boycott the services of telecommunication operators beginning today February 13, 2025, over the tariff hike.

The labour union said, “As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm until the end of February 2025.”It expressed shock that the telecom operators have started implementing the 50% tariff hike contrary to an agreement it had with the federal government.

The NLC also urged all workers to suspend the purchase of data from the telecom operators, adding that data has become “one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.

”The Union further expressed that a 10-man committee was recently constituted to deliberate on the matter within two weeks and report back before any final decision could be made on the new telecom tariff structure.“The CWC strongly condemns this action by the telecommunications companies, it as a betrayal of trust, an affront to the principles of negotiation, and a direct slap on the government and its institution, and a disdain for Nigerian people. “CWC-in-session believes that this is a further demonstration of regulatory capture and impotence in the midst of corporate onslaught the and the continuing abandonment of workers and masses to corporate fat cats by the government.”

Echoing labour’s call, the House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani and the NCC, to suspend telecommunications tariff hike until their services are improved.

The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved at Tuesday’s plenary by Rep. Obuku Offorji.

Offorji said, “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 per cent in November 2024 and losses resulting from foreign exchange fluctuations.

He added that the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has rejected the proposed increase in tariffs, describing it as insensitive and a further burden on consumers already grappling with economic hardship and poor network service delivery.

“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 noted.
As the NLC-led boycott gains momentum, it is crystal clear that the telecom companies can no longer ignore the voices of their customers.

The government and regulatory bodies must also step in to ensure that the interests of consumers are protected.

Ultimately, the outcome of this standoff will have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s digital economy and the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.