50% Telecom Tariff Hike: NCSCN Calls Off Planned Protest

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called off its planned protest against the 50 per cent increase in telecom tariffs.

Mr Blessing Akinlosotu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCSCN, disclosed this during a press conference organised by the council on Monday in Abuja.

He stated that NCSCN needed to engage in consultations and sensitisation based on facts and figures, considering the prevailing economic realities.

Akinlosotu explained that the council had initially convened an emergency meeting with telecom service providers following the “Shocking news of approval for an increment by the Federal Government to an upper limit of 50 per cent.”

“Then the council reached a resolution that all our 620 affiliates should hold a World Press Conference last Friday to strongly condemn the decision of the Government.

“We further planned to commence a Peaceful Protest to occupy the Headquarters of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly until the decision is reversed,” he stated.

“In line with the council’s standing tradition, letters of Pre-Action Notice were written to relevant quarters, including the NCC.”

He noted that the NCC, upon receiving the council’s letter, exhibited “A very high sense of responsibility” by responding within 24 hours.

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According to him, the council established an 11-man team to engage with the NCC’s management in a robust discussion, which took place on 30 January.

Akinlosotu stated that following the meeting, “many revelations emerged, which made NCSCN better informed in taking action moving forward.”

“This also led the council to set up a 5-man Technical Committee to carefully study documents presented to us.

“The council mandated the committee to conduct a clinical and forensic examination of available records of operational costs and annual profit margins of some major telecom service providers in Nigeria, alongside critical assessments of financial statements.”

He further urged Nigerians to acknowledge “The painful and bitter realities being faced in the operational costs by service providers” and accept “This understandable tariff adjustment,” which took effect on Monday, 3 January 2025.

“We equally appeal to the Nigerian Labour Congress to review the matter to prevent the systematic collapse of telecom services in Nigeria.

“Seeing that most businesses are already folding up and leaving the country due to high production costs, we appeal to Nigerians to keep faith with the NCC leadership,” he concluded.