Telecommunications subscribers and advocacy groups have taken legal action against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over its recent 50% increase in call and data tariffs, following unsuccessful attempts to engage the regulator on a downward review.
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) announced plans to file a lawsuit against the NCC on Wednesday, citing the commission’s failure to address its request for a reduction of the tariff hike to 10%.
The tariff adjustment, which was announced last Monday, marks the first price review in over a decade and has sparked widespread backlash. Critics, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), argue that the increase will exacerbate economic hardships for low-income households and small businesses already struggling with rising inflation and a volatile economy.
Legal Battle Begins
NATCOMS, which represents 157 million Nigerian telecom users, had formally petitioned the NCC on Friday, giving the regulator three working days to reconsider its stance. The NCC did not respond within the deadline, prompting the association to proceed with legal action.
NATCOMS President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, confirmed the development, stating “We gave them until the end of the day (Tuesday) to respond. Since we have not received any response, we are moving forward with the court process starting tomorrow (Wednesday).”
The NCC’s Director of Publicity, Reuben Mouka, had not responded to inquiries at the time of filing this report.
According to Ogunbanjo, the letter to the NCC detailed the impact of the 50% hike, particularly on low-income Nigerians, who rely on affordable communication services for their daily activities.
“Our National Secretary informed us that the NCC has until 11:59 pm today (Tuesday) to respond. They can still reply through their website, which is available 24/7, but with no word from them, we are left with no choice but to proceed with legal action.”
SERAP Files Lawsuit Against Tinubu’s Government
The legal pressure on the NCC intensified last Friday, when SERAP filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, challenging the tariff increase.
In its court filing (FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025), SERAP labeled the NCC’s decision as “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable.” The group is seeking a judicial ruling on whether the price hike violates Nigerians’ right to freedom of expression and access to information.
“The unilateral decision by the NCC to authorise telcos to hike telecom tariffs by 50 per cent is arbitrary and inconsistent with constitutional guarantees,” SERAP stated.
SERAP is also requesting an interim injunction to prevent the NCC from implementing the new tariffs, arguing that the move could further limit access to digital communication in an already challenging economic climate.
Telecom Operators Defend Tariff Hike
While subscribers and advocacy groups push back, telecom operators insist that the price increase is necessary to sustain operations amid rising operational costs and foreign exchange volatility.
Several industry players have outlined plans to reinvest earnings from the tariff hike into network upgrades and improved service quality. However, analysts warn that the increase may not be enough to resolve the sector’s long-standing challenges, including fluctuating exchange rates and high infrastructure costs.
As legal battles unfold, industry observers say the outcome of these cases could reshape the regulatory framework for Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, setting a precedent for future pricing decisions.