Nigerian telecommunications subscribers are taking legal action against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over its recent approval of a 50% increase in call and data tariffs, following failed attempts at negotiation.

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), representing 157 million users, announced Tuesday its plans to file a lawsuit after the NCC failed to respond to their proposal to reduce the hike to 10%. The association had given the regulator a three-day window to reconsider its position.

"Since we have not received any response, we are moving forward with the court process starting Wednesday," said NATCOMS President Adeolu Ogunbanjo. He emphasized that the steep increase particularly burdens lower-income subscribers who depend on affordable communication services.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has already filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging President Tinubu's government. SERAP argues that the tariff hike is "arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable" and seeks an interim injunction to halt its implementation.

The increase, announced last week Monday and set to take effect in February, marks the first such adjustment in over a decade. While telecom operators defend the hike as necessary for business sustainability and infrastructure expansion, critics including NATCOMS, SERAP, and the Nigeria Labour Congress argue it compounds economic hardships amid rising inflation.

Industry analysts note that despite the planned increase, telecom companies continue to face challenges from volatile exchange rates, affecting their ability to make long-term investments and manage operational costs effectively.

The NCC's Director of Publicity, Reuben Mouka, has not responded to requests for comment on the developing situation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​