• House of Representatives
• Telecoms Tariff

HOUSE OF REPS CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF TELECOMS TARIFF HIKE

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 4 months
• 0
• 2 min read

The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the proposed increase in telecommunications tariffs until service quality improves. This decision was made after Rep. Obuku Offorji presented a motion of urgent public importance during plenary. Offorji recalled that Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced on January 8 that telecom operators were seeking to raise tariffs, with proposals reaching as high as 100%. Although Tijani indicated that the increase would not be that steep, he confirmed that the NCC would approve the new rates. The lawmaker criticized the justification for the hike, citing rising investment costs and increased demand for digital services. He emphasized that telecommunications companies have been advocating for such increases for the past 11 years, citing economic challenges like inflation and foreign exchange fluctuations. Offorji argued that before any tariff increase, telecom companies must improve their service delivery, which has been a significant concern for Nigerians. He cautioned that the proposed price hikes would deepen financial struggles for average citizens, threaten the nation’s technological advancement goals, and exacerbate poverty, particularly affecting low-income families. The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers also opposed the tariff increase, describing it as insensitive, especially given the economic hardships faced by consumers. The association’s president, Deolu Ogunbanjo, noted that a marginal increase of 5% to 10% would have been more acceptable. The call for affordable connectivity is seen as crucial for progress in essential sectors such as digital banking, education, healthcare, and e-governance.