The House of Representatives in Nigeria has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, as well as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to suspend the proposed increase in telecommunications tariffs until service quality improves.
The resolution was reached on Tuesday following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Oboji Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa). The lawmaker emphasized the need to halt the impending tariff hike by telecom operators, citing concerns over poor service delivery.
Leading the debate, Oforji recalled a recent announcement by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, regarding the planned increase in telecom tariffs. According to the minister, discussions are ongoing with industry stakeholders, and while telecom companies have proposed an increase of up to 100 percent, the final adjustment will be determined and approved by the NCC.
Oforji noted that telecom companies have been pushing for tariff adjustments for over a decade, with industry associations such as the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) arguing that cost-reflective pricing is necessary due to economic challenges. These challenges include inflation, which reached 34.6 percent in November 2024, and foreign exchange losses impacting the industry.
However, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has rejected the proposed tariff hike, describing it as an additional burden on consumers already struggling with economic hardship and poor network services.
“It is imperative that telecom companies improve their network quality, which Nigerians have been demanding for years, before any tariff increase is considered,” Oforji stated.
He further warned that the hike would have severe economic consequences, deepening financial struggles for low-income Nigerians, increasing poverty, and worsening inequalities. The lawmaker stressed that affordable connectivity is essential for key sectors such as digital banking, education, healthcare, and e-governance.
Supporting the motion, Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) criticized the service quality of telecom providers, stating that Nigerians would be more willing to pay higher tariffs if the services were efficient.
“In developed countries, people pay for quality services. But here, Nigerians are forced to carry two or more phones just to maintain connectivity. The planned increase should wait until the service improves,” Osawaru said.
However, Dominic Okafor (APGA, Anambra) argued that the cost of doing business in Nigeria has significantly increased, making it necessary for telecom operators to adjust their tariffs to sustain operations and improve service quality.
The House resolved that the planned tariff hike should be suspended until telecom companies address long-standing issues of poor network service across the country.
