Progressive Students Movement Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum to NCC Over Telecom Price Hike

A cross-section of students in Enugu has called for the reversal of the recently approved 50 per cent hike in telecommunication tariffs, citing the worsening economic hardship in the country. In separate interviews on Wednesday, several students expressed their concerns about the negative impact the price increase would have on their ability to stay connected and access educational resources.

Divine Eze, a student of Environmental Management at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecom companies to consider the financial struggles of students and their families. Eze pointed out that many students are already grappling with the rising costs of textbooks and other educational materials, making it difficult to manage any additional expenses.

Chiamaka Dike, a student at the Institute of Management and Technology, also expressed frustration with the hike, particularly the rising cost of data services. “Data usage has been a lifeline for me, and my parents have been providing N2,000 monthly for my GSM needs. Like many of my peers, I use data sparingly, only when necessary,” said Dike, who is studying Banking and Finance.

Chidiebere Chimdobe, a student from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, criticized the NCC and telecom companies for not consulting with stakeholders before implementing the hike. Chimdobe noted that many students and fresh graduates rely on telecom services for e-jobs and soft skills development, and the price increase would exacerbate the difficulties faced by Nigerian youths.

In response to the hike, the Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a pan-African student group, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the NCC and telecom companies, demanding the reversal of the 50 per cent tariff increase. PSM President Bestman Okereafor condemned the hike as “unjustifiable, untimely, and insensitive,” and warned of protests from students’ bodies if the increase is not reviewed within the next three days.

“If this price hike is not reversed, it will only deepen the hardship of Nigerian students and increase social vices,” Chimdobe added. The students’ protest signals widespread opposition to the tariff hike, with students emphasizing that the current economic environment makes the increase unbearable.