NCC’s 50% Telecom Tariff Hike Sparks Outrage: Grassroots Centre Slams Poor Service Delivery

The Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation has strongly criticized the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for approving a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs, calling out the regulatory body for prioritizing telecom companies over the welfare of Nigerian citizens.

On January 20, the NCC approved the tariff hike in response to requests from telecom companies like MTN Nigeria, who lobbied for a 100% increase, citing rising operational costs driven by inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, diesel price hikes, and higher network maintenance expenses. The new tariff structure includes an increase in call rates from N11 to N16.50 per minute, SMS charges from N4 to N6, and the cost of 1GB of data from N350 to N431.25.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Armsfree Ajanaku, the Grassroots Centre criticized the NCC for its lack of concern for the average Nigerian, questioning whether such a significant price hike is justifiable given the substandard service quality provided by telecom operators. “We call on the NCC to immediately share with Nigerians a comprehensive framework for ensuring telcos deliver world-class services,” Ajanaku said.

The organization further emphasized that the increase, while possibly justified by rising costs, would burden Nigerians already struggling with the high costs of living, including soaring fuel prices and electricity tariffs. The group expressed concerns that the decision would only serve to exacerbate the financial hardships of ordinary citizens, particularly when many Nigerians still experience poor network coverage and frequent service disruptions.

The Grassroots Centre also highlighted that the NCC’s approval seemed to ignore the underlying issue of poor service delivery. “As a regulator, is the NCC’s role to help telcos engage in price gouging or to ensure a telecoms industry with world-class quality of service?” Ajanaku queried.

The centre demanded an immediate reversal of the tariff increase, urging the NCC to focus on improving service standards and holding telecom companies accountable for delivering value to Nigerian consumers. They warned that without better services, the tariff increase would be seen as an unjustified burden on the populace.