KEY POINTS

• SERAP wants telecom tariff hike of 50 percent reversed within 48 hours.
• But NCC defends increase, saying operational costs on which it bases its hikes have risen since 2013.
• SERAP promises it will take legal action to stop the hike if it is not reversed immediately.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Bola Tinubu’s administration a 48 hour ultimatum to reverse the just approved 50 percent hike in telecom tariffs.

The hike was described as unlawful by SERAP and the organisation vowed to pursue legal action for any failure by the presidential direction to be followed.

The statement followed Wednesday’s announcement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) that it was adjusting the tariff in order to keep costs in line with rising operational expenses faced by telecommunications companies.

Tariff increase defended by NCC

Although the request of operators for 100 percent was sidelined, the NCC affirmed that the measure was part of making the struggle to sustain industry operations and support investments in infrastructure, the denial has been 50 percent.

The commission said the new tariffs, which cap at the 2013 Cost Study tariff bands seek to improve network quality and connectivity and improve service delivery without making a profit.

But SERAP has criticized the decision, saying that it could disenfranchise Nigerians already battling high living costs.