The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the recent 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs, citing the economic strain caused by fuel subsidy removal.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Oboku Oforji, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Bayelsa State, during Tuesday’s plenary. Oforji argued that while telecom operators justified the increase due to rising operational costs and inflation, the burden on Nigerians was already overwhelming.
He emphasized that “the far-reaching effects of these price hikes will deepen financial struggles for the average Nigerian, threaten the country’s vision of leveraging technology for economic revival, exacerbate poverty, and widen existing inequalities.”
Other lawmakers weighed in on the debate, with Dominic Okafor of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) arguing that service providers require increased revenue to improve their infrastructure. However, Billy Osawaru, a federal lawmaker from Edo State, countered that telecom companies should first improve service quality before raising tariffs.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, as well as the NCC, to suspend the tariff hike until telecom services improve.
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