The Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation has condemned the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, calling it an unfair burden on Nigerians already facing harsh economic conditions.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Armsfree Ajanaku on Tuesday, the group described the tariff hike as unjustified, particularly in light of the poor quality of services provided by telecommunications companies.
Ajanaku, said the NCC’s decision showed more concern for telcos’ profitability than for the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
“The NCC’s role is to regulate the telecoms industry, not to aid telcos in fleecing Nigerians with exorbitant charges for substandard services. Dropped calls, internet downtime, and poor service quality remain unresolved, yet Nigerians are being asked to pay more,” Ajanaku said.
The group also criticized the NCC’s justification of the increase, which cited rising operational costs, including inflation, exchange rate instability, and higher diesel prices.
They argued that these economic challenges were not caused by ordinary citizens but by poorly implemented government policies.
“Citizens are already reeling from high fuel prices and increased electricity tariffs. Now they must contend with higher telecom tariffs, with call rates rising to N16.50 per minute and data costs increasing to N431.25 per gigabyte. This hike is extortionate and driven by profit, not service improvement,” the statement added.
The Grassroots Centre called on the NCC to reverse the tariff hike and present a detailed plan to improve service delivery in the telecoms sector.
“Nigerians deserve seamless and efficient telecom services, not arbitrary profiteering by telcos. The NCC must prioritize a service-driven approach that supports Nigeria’s economic development,” Ajanaku said.
The group urged Nigerians to demand better from the NCC and hold telecommunications companies accountable for delivering world-class services.
