Nigerians have taken to social media to kick against the approval of a 50 percent tariff hike for telecommunications providers by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), accusing the Tinubu administration of inflicting more pain and hardship on citizens.
In their reactions on social media, critics of the tariff hike expressed curiosity at the timing and rationale behind the tariff hike approval by the NCC, at a time majority of Nigerians are already overburdened and suffocating under the harsh economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
Taking to his X handle, @ Emmaikumme, the social media user accused the administration of being insensitive to the feelings of the citizens, who are groaning under the economic situation in the country.
“Yesterday evening, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 percent tariff increase for telecom operators in the country. This means telephone users/subscribers in Nigeria will pay more for data and airtime. This increase will negatively affect every phase; cost of goods and services, communication, content creation, education research and surfing.
“I’m curious, why is this government fixated on increasing tax, VAT, tariffs, PMS, etc…? Why are they hell bent on making life more miserable and hard for Nigerians? While the government and its affiliates continue to bask in the euphoria of extravagance, flamboyance, waste, and reckless spending. All this is at the expense of citizens
“Everything this government does is to further impoverish Nigerians and sink the country further into hopelessness, hunger, pain, death, and human degradation. Headline inflation is at an unprecedented high level, purchasing power for Nigerians is at an all-time low, food inflation is at a historic high level, and Nigerians can barely feed,” he said.
Another X user @EngrKibiya, replying to comments by @ Emmaikumme, said on his handle that “a government that thrives on suffering you have spoken nothing but the truth Bro Emma. The Tinubu-led APC government has shown zero empathy for the struggles of Nigerians. Every decision they make seems designed to cripple the economy and push citizens deeper into poverty. Instead of providing relief, they keep increasing taxes, tariffs, and fuel prices, making life unbearable for the masses.
“How can a government watch its people suffer and still waste billions on luxury, foreign trips, and extravagant lifestyles? Inflation is at an all-time high, the cost of living is unbearable, and Nigerians can barely afford food. Yet, their only solution is to impose more hardship instead of fixing the economy.”
Also, on his X handle, @Sankofa said: “Tariff increase while providing very poor service. Nigerians are the wet dreams of wicked leaders because as expected, nothing will happen. The regulators and service providers know they can do anything and get away with it because the citizens of Nigeria are just loudmouthed and empty!”
However, some Nigerians defended the NCC’s action, pointing to the operations costs incurred by telecommunications providers.
Speaking up for the telecoms, @Woodfetcher said on his handle: “So you want telecoms to shut down? Their equipment are priced in USD, they have lost 100 percent of their investments value. Telcom equipment requires upgrade, maintenance and consumables to remain operational. How will the company raise the money if the tariff remains the same?
Read Also: NCC approves 50% tariff hike for Telecom operators to sustain industry amid rising costs
“I am not siding the Telcos, it’s just a sad reality we have to face. Airlines increased prices, school fees abroad increased, Starlink is a Telco, DSTV did, Spotify increased, Netflix did same. These are all companies providing services within Nigeria. We shouldn’t attack Aso Rock.”
Another X user @ Godshols on his handle stated: “Let me tell you one of the reasons there needs to be a tariff increment, the telcos are one of the biggest payer of taxes in Nigeria and they’ve been in the red since this administration came in to destroy the economic base and fundamentals of the country. So, the increment is not a problem. We need the NCC to ensure that we get value for what we are paying for.
“We need you (NCC) to condition network providers, not to charge us for services not rendered. And when they do, there should be an avenue for complaints and possible refund.”
Replying to the post by @Woodfetcher, @Engrkibiya, on his handle disagreed with the reasons he adduced for the tariff hike, saying that “telcos are private businesses, not charity organizations. They entered the Nigerian market knowing the risks, including currency fluctuations. Their goal is profit, and they’ve been making billions for years. Now, instead of demanding better economic policies from the government, you want struggling Nigerians to bear the burden of their losses?
“If telcos are truly in crisis, let them open their books and show their profits and expenses. Let’s see if they are really suffering or just using this as an excuse to exploit Nigerians. The real problem is not telecom pricing, it’s the failed economic policies of this government that have destroyed the value of the naira. Fix the economy, and telcos won’t need to raise tariffs to survive.”
