The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to court over its controversial approval of a 50% increase in telecom tariffs, a move that has sparked widespread outrage.
Through its legal counsel, senior lawyer Ebunolu Adegboruwa (SAN), SERAP filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, seeking to block the implementation of the hike, arguing that it deepens economic hardship and violates constitutional rights.
The NCC’s decision, announced earlier in January, would see call rates jump from N11 to N16 per minute, data costs rise from N287.30 to N431.25 per GB, and SMS charges increase from N4 to N6. Labour unions and civil society groups have strongly opposed the increase, warning that it will further burden Nigerians already grappling with inflation, unemployment, and a struggling economy.
In its court filing, SERAP described the tariff hike as unjust and a direct restriction on Nigerians’ fundamental right to communicate and access information. “This increase comes at a time of economic hardship, further burdening Nigerians, many of whom struggle with poverty,” the legal notice reads.
The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration that the tariff hike is unlawful and an order preventing the NCC and telecom providers from enforcing it.
As public outcry grows, SERAP has also applied for an injunction to immediately halt the implementation of the new rates, pending the court’s final ruling. The outcome of this legal battle could set a significant precedent for consumer rights and regulatory accountability in Nigeria.