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…Says, “Unlawful, Unfair, and Unreasonable”
FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs.
The increase affects:
- Call Rates: From ₦11 to ₦16.5 per minute.
- 1GB Data: From ₦287.5 to ₦431.25.
- SMS Charges: From ₦4 to ₦6.
SERAP contends that the tariff hike is “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable.”
Filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, SERAP asserts that the NCC’s decision violates citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information under Nigerian and international laws.
Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare highlighted that the hike contravenes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, the Nigerian Constitution, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
SERAP has requested the court to:
- Declare the NCC’s decision unconstitutional, arbitrary, and unfair.
- Set aside the 50% tariff hike announced on January 20, 2025.
- Issue an injunction restraining the NCC and telecom companies from enforcing the hike.
- Provide any further reliefs deemed necessary.
SERAP argued that the tariff increase worsens the plight of Nigerians, citing:
- High Poverty Levels: 133 million Nigerians are classified as multi-dimensionally poor, with limited access to basic services.
- Rising Living Costs: Inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and escalating food prices have placed significant financial strain on citizens.
- Lack of Stakeholder Engagement: SERAP alleged that the NCC failed to consult stakeholders, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, before approving the hike.
No date has been set for the hearing of SERAP’s interim application and the substantive suit.
The organization however maintained that the tariff hike disproportionately affects economically vulnerable Nigerians, undermining their right to equal access to communication services.
