The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), challenging the recent 50% increase in telecom tariffs. SERAP described the hike as “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable.”
The NCC recently approved the tariff increase, raising the cost of a one-minute call from ₦11 to ₦16.5, 1GB of data from ₦287.5 to ₦431.25, and SMS charges from ₦4 to ₦6. The move has sparked widespread criticism, with SERAP spearheading legal efforts to halt its implementation.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025), SERAP’s case argues that the tariff hike violates citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international treaties.
In a statement issued on Sunday titled “SERAP Wants Court to Stop Tinubu Govt, Telcos from Implementing 50% Telecom Tariff Hike”, SERAP’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, said, “The unilateral decision by the NCC to approve this hike contravenes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 and international human rights standards. It also reflects a failure to consult key stakeholders, such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
SERAP accused the NCC of disregarding the principles of fairness, reasonableness, and due process in exercising its statutory powers. “The decision undermines citizens’ rights to seek, receive, and impart information through communication media without discrimination,” the lawsuit stated.
The tariff hike comes amidst Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges. A recent National Bureau of Statistics report revealed that 133 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty, with many relying on wood, dung, or charcoal for cooking.
SERAP highlighted the financial strain on Nigerians, stating, “This hike adds to existing burdens, including the removal of fuel subsidies, rising electricity tariffs, and soaring food prices. It’s happening when many Nigerians struggle to afford basic necessities, let alone higher communication costs.”
In its legal prayers, SERAP seeks a court declaration that the tariff hike violates constitutional and international human rights provisions, an injunction to halt its implementation, and a nullification of the NCC’s decision. SERAP called the increase “extortive, unreasonable, and a breach of due process.”
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, emphasized the broader implications of the tariff hike, stating, “Access to communication is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right. The government and NCC have a duty to ensure telecommunication services remain affordable, especially for millions of Nigerians living in poverty.”
Meanwhile, subscriber groups have issued an ultimatum to the NCC, demanding a reduction of the tariff hike from 50% to 10% by Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
No date has been set for the hearing of the case, which could have significant ramifications for telecom regulation and consumer protection in Nigeria.
