The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has announced the suspension of its planned protest against the recently approved 50% increase in telecom tariffs by the Federal Government.
This decision was made during a presentation outlining the Council’s findings and official stance on the controversial tariff hike, which was announced by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
Initially, the government rejected a proposed 100% increase from telecom operators but ultimately approved a 50% hike, leading to widespread public discontent and calls for protests from civil society groups, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
NCSCN President Blessing Akinlosotu explained that after extensive discussions with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) regarding the operational costs faced by service providers, the Council recognized the necessity of capping the increase at 50% to prevent potential collapse in the telecom sector. Akinlosotu acknowledged that the Council had insufficient information when it first planned to mobilize for protests and urged Nigerians to understand the complexities behind the tariff hike.
Key factors contributing to rising operational costs include vandalism, high diesel prices, inflation, and multiple taxation. The Council has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector, enhance electricity supply, and improve security measures to stabilize production costs.
Akinlosotu also emphasized the need for initiatives aimed at strengthening the naira and reducing foreign exchange rates to alleviate business costs and minimize future tariff increases.
