
Telecommunications operators in Nigeria are awaiting detailed guidelines from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the implementation of a contentious 50 per cent tariff hike. The regulator is expected to release a “determination document” that will outline the frameworks, terms, and conditions necessary for rolling out the new tariff adjustments.
Under the proposed policy, telecom operators will be allowed to adjust prices within the existing tariff bands of N6.40 to N50, as stipulated by the NCC’s 2013 Cost Study. The implementation is scheduled to commence in February, following a virtual stakeholders’ meeting held last Monday, where the tariff hike was announced.
The President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Tony Emoekpere, emphasized that tariff adjustments are governed by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which mandates a structured and transparent process.
“The determination document will provide the required framework and guidelines for implementation,” Emoekpere told The PUNCH. “Unlike the price of tomatoes, which fluctuates freely, telecom tariffs are strictly regulated.”

Telecom tariff rates have remained unchanged for over a decade, despite rising inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and substantial investments required to meet growing consumer demand. These factors have placed significant financial pressure on the industry, which contributes 14 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, clarified that the adjustments fall within NCC-approved price bands. “There are lower and upper price bands established by regulations, and operators must approach the NCC for reviews within these guidelines,” Adebayo explained.
The telecom operators had initially proposed a 100 per cent tariff increase to address rising operational costs. However, the NCC approved a 50 per cent adjustment as a compromise.
Despite this, the move has drawn criticism. The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has issued an ultimatum, demanding the reversal of the hike to 10 per cent by January 29, 2025. Subscribers also threatened to initiate legal action if the regulator fails to comply.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria, Sina Bilesanmi, criticized the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for its planned protests over the hike. Bilesanmi urged the union to focus on its core mandate of safeguarding workers’ welfare instead of interfering in telecommunications issues.

The tariff hike aims to bridge the gap between rising costs and revenue but does not address the deeper systemic challenges threatening the sustainability of the sector, which remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s digital economy.