The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs. The lawsuit challenges the increase as arbitrary, unconstitutional, and a violation of citizens’ rights.
The NCC had approved a tariff hike raising call rates from ₦11 to ₦16.5 per minute, the cost of 1GB of data from ₦287.5 to ₦431.25, and SMS charges from ₦4 to ₦6. SERAP argues that this decision infringes on Nigerians’ freedom of expression and access to information, guaranteed by both local and international laws.
Filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025), SERAP seeks several court declarations, including:
A ruling that the tariff hike is unconstitutional, unfair, and unreasonable.
An interim injunction restraining the NCC and telecom companies from implementing the increase.
SERAP, represented by senior advocate Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, claims the NCC’s actions breach the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, the Nigerian Constitution, and international human rights laws. The group also alleges a lack of proper stakeholder consultation in approving the tariff increase.
In its filing, SERAP noted the adverse effects of the hike on Nigerians already burdened by economic challenges, including widespread poverty, high living costs, and limited access to basic services.
The lawsuit highlights:
The National Bureau of Statistics’ report showing 133 million Nigerians living in poverty.
The economic strain from the removal of fuel subsidies, electricity tariff hikes, and food inflation.
SERAP has asked the court to void the NCC’s decision and halt further implementation of the tariff increase. No hearing date has been set for the case.
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