Joy Agwunobi
Nigeria’s telecommunications operators are preparing to introduce revised tariff pricing structures following the government-approved 50 per cent increase, which was sanctioned through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Although the NCC had stipulated that the tariff adjustment, approved on January 20, 2025, should take effect in February, telecom service providers have indicated that full implementation will commence in March.
During a recent engagement with journalists and industry stakeholders in Lagos, telecom operators justified the price adjustment, explaining that it is crucial for sustaining the sector rather than merely boosting their profit margins.
Meanwhile, opposition to the tariff hike is intensifying as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have scheduled a mass protest for tomorrow, February 4, in a bid to pressure the government into reconsidering the increase and scaling it down to five per cent.
Leading discussions on behalf of telecom operators, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), explained that operators would roll out their new tariff structures individually. He noted that the process of filing, reviewing, and obtaining regulatory approvals from the NCC is currently underway.
“We are following the regulatory framework, which requires filing, reviewing, and securing approvals. Once these approvals are granted, individual operators will introduce their revised rates at different times. By next week, we should start seeing some adjustments in pricing,” Adebayo stated.
He emphasised that the tariff adjustment is necessary for the survival of the telecom industry, adding that the sector cannot continue to bear the burden of subsidising other sectors.
“The telecom sector cannot serve as a subsidy for other industries. Our pricing should reflect the realities of the economy, and telecommunications cannot be used as a palliative.
“You cannot say that because the prices of essential commodities such as garri, pepper, and okra have risen, telecom services must be provided below cost to compensate for it. If we continue along that path, it is only a matter of time before the industry suffers significant setbacks.
“It is crucial that we adopt sustainable pricing. The telecom sector cannot be expected to absorb the financial challenges faced by other industries, particularly when those challenges are not caused by the operators,” he added.
On the longstanding N250 billion debt related to unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) transactions between telecom operators and banks, Adebayo confirmed that positive developments are being made toward resolving the issue.
“I appreciate the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved in addressing this matter. Progress is being made, and we are moving toward a resolution,” he said.
Speaking on industry investments, Femi Adeniran, Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, noted that telecom operators have remained committed to investing in infrastructure and service improvements. However, he pointed out that the tariff review would allow for increased investment in expanding and enhancing telecom services.
