The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the proposed hike in telecommunications tariffs until there is a significant improvement in service quality.
Lawmakers raised concerns over the minister’s recent disclosure that telecom operators sought a tariff increase due to rising operational costs, inflation, and forex losses.
While the minister assured that the increase would not be as high as 100 percent, members of the House rejected the proposal, citing widespread public opposition and the failure of telecom companies to address poor network service.
The House warned that the increase would worsen economic hardship, deepen digital inequality, and negatively impact key sectors like banking, education, and healthcare. Small businesses could also suffer losses, potentially forcing some to shut down.
Following deliberations, the House resolved to urge the NCC and the minister to halt the tariff hike and mandated the Committee on Telecommunications to ensure compliance.
