The House of Representatives has called for the immediate suspension of the recently implemented increase in telecommunications tariffs, citing concerns over economic hardship and poor service delivery. The resolution was reached on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, following a motion of urgent national importance presented by House member Oboku Oforji.

Lawmakers criticized the quality of service provided by telecom operators, arguing that any tariff increase should be contingent on significant improvements. They directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to reverse the hike, stressing that Nigerians should not bear additional financial burdens under current economic conditions.

The tariff increase, which took effect earlier in February, has led to a sharp rise in the cost of calls, data, and text messages. Subscribers have reported an estimated 50% surge in telecom service charges. As of December 2023, Nigeria had over 224 million telecom subscribers, with major operators including MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile.

The NCC had initially justified the tariff adjustment, stating that while telecom operators had requested a hike of over 100%, regulators approved a 50% increase to maintain industry sustainability. However, the move has faced widespread opposition. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had previously threatened industrial action in response to the tariff hike but suspended their planned protests after negotiations with the government.