The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the recent approval of a 50% hike in telecom tariffs.
The legal action, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenges the increase, claiming it is unconstitutional and a violation of citizens’ rights.
According to the suit, the NCC’s decision to raise the cost of telecommunications services—including calls, data, and SMS—was made without proper consultation and is detrimental to the fundamental rights of Nigerians, particularly their right to freedom of expression and access to information.
As a result of the hike, the price of calls will rise from N11 to N16.5 per minute, the cost of 1GB of data will jump from N287.5 to N431.25, and SMS charges will increase from N4 to N6.
Filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, the legal challenge argues that the NCC’s decision is not only arbitrary and unreasonable but also fails to meet the requirements of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018.
SERAP contends that the tariff hike breaches constitutional rights and international human rights law, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In its claim, SERAP seeks a declaration from the court that the telecom tariff hike is unconstitutional and unlawful.
The group is also requesting an interim injunction to prevent the NCC from enforcing or further implementing the tariff increase while the matter is under litigation.
The suit highlights the broader economic context in which this increase is taking place, pointing to the severe poverty in Nigeria, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS data reveals that over 133 million Nigerians are living in poverty, a condition worsened by ongoing economic challenges like the removal of the fuel subsidy, electricity tariff hikes, and inflation in food prices.
According to SERAP, the decision by the NCC to unilaterally raise telecom tariffs exacerbates these struggles and undermines the principles of fairness, reasonableness, and consumer protection.
The organization emphasizes that the hike was made without proper consultation with stakeholders, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and without adequate justification for the increase.
As the case unfolds, SERAP hopes to secure a ruling that will protect the rights of Nigerians and ensure that such decisions are made with transparency and accountability. A date for the hearing has not yet been set.