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House Of Reps Orders NCC To Halt 50% Telecom Tariff Hike
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to immediately suspend the controversial 50% hike in telecommunication tariffs due to the severe economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Lawmakers argued that the increase would worsen the already difficult financial situation for millions, especially following the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
The motion, led by Bayelsa lawmaker Oboku Oforji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized how such a tariff hike would negatively affect citizens, small businesses, and the economy as a whole. Oforji criticized telecom operators who had been pushing for cost-reflective tariffs, saying that service providers should first improve their poor network quality before imposing higher costs on consumers.
He added, “The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has outrightly rejected this increase, calling it insensitive and an unnecessary strain on Nigerians already grappling with high inflation, job losses, and skyrocketing living costs.”
Other lawmakers, such as Billy Osawaru from Edo State, expressed similar concerns, questioning why economic hardships always seem to target ordinary Nigerians. “First, it was electricity tariff, now telecom services! Must the poor always suffer in this country?” Osawaru exclaimed.
However, not all members of the House opposed the hike. Dominic Okafor from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) defended the increase, arguing that telecom companies needed the revenue to enhance infrastructure and service quality. His argument, though, was quickly dismissed by his colleagues, who insisted that Nigerians should not be forced to pay higher prices for subpar services.
In the end, the House ruled that the NCC and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy must suspend the tariff hike until telecom providers show a marked improvement in service quality.
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