The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, opposing the “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unfair” 50% hike in telecom tariffs recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC, which authorized the tariff increase, is named as a defendant in the suit. Under the new rates, the cost of calls will rise from N11 to N16.5 per minute, 1GB of data will increase from N287.5 to N431.25, and SMS charges will jump from N4 to N6.
The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. SERAP is urging the court to determine whether the NCC’s unilateral decision to approve the 50% tariff hike is “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, unreasonable, and inconsistent with citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information.”
SERAP is seeking a declaration from the court that the NCC’s action violates these rights and is therefore unconstitutional and unlawful.
Additionally, the organization is requesting an interim injunction to restrain the NCC, its officers, agents, and any other parties acting on its behalf from implementing or enforcing the tariff hike.
In its argument, SERAP asserts that the NCC’s decision disregards legal and constitutional provisions as well as international standards protecting freedom of expression and access to information. These provisions, according to SERAP, require that statutory powers, such as those exercised by the NCC, adhere to principles of legality, fairness, and reasonableness.
The suit, filed by SERAP’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), states: “The NCC has a duty to ensure fairness and reasonableness in exercising its powers to authorize the 50% telecom tariff hike. This duty is rooted in legal provisions, consumer rights, and international standards on freedom of expression and access to information.”
The filing further argues that the NCC failed to base its decision on reasonable interpretations of its enabling statutes and guidelines, nor did it follow due process.
Among other reliefs, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order restraining the NCC and telecommunication companies in Nigeria from implementing the tariff hike announced in a press release dated January 20, 2025.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the interim application or the substantive case.
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