The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a tariff adjustment allowing telecommunication operators to increase their tariffs by up to 50% within existing tariff bands. This decision was made in accordance with the NCC’s regulatory mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 and reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sensitivity to the economic realities faced by households and businesses.

According to a statement by the NCC, the adjustment aims to balance the rising cost of operations in the telecom sector, which has remained unchanged since 2013, despite significant economic changes. The adjustment is notably lower than the over 100% increment initially requested by telecom operators.

The NCC emphasized that the approved adjustment does not translate to automatic tariff increases. Operators have the option to maintain their current rates if deemed reflective of their cost of service delivery. Furthermore, the adjustments must comply with NCC guidelines on tariff simplification and remain within the tariff bands established in the 2013 cost study.

To protect consumer interests, the NCC has mandated telecom operators to simplify their tariff structures and has introduced stringent sanctions for those who fail to meet their service obligations under recently updated quality-of-service regulations.

It was also clarified that this tariff adjustment is not connected to ongoing conversations about tax reforms. Instead, it serves as a measure to ensure the sustainability of the telecom industry amid current economic challenges.

The NCC’s move underscores its commitment to ensuring that telecom operators provide quality services while maintaining affordability for consumers.