Since many Nigerians are already struggling to keep up with the rising expense of living as a result of the nation’s hyperinflation, the coalition contended that the action is completely unjustifiable.

Telecommunications providers were given permission by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) on Monday to raise their rates by up to 50%.

The hike, according to the commission, is intended to help operators pay for operating expenses and guarantee improved service delivery.

Call charges would go up from N11 to N16.50 per minute, SMS rates will go up from N4 to N6, and data costs will go up from N350 to N431.25 per gigabyte as a result of the tariff hike.

However, the CNG criticized the anticipated raise in a statement released on Wednesday by Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, its National Coordinator, claiming it is an assault on the dignity and livelihood of Nigerians.

He pointed out that Nigerians are already suffering because of economic challenges, and the government is indifferent to this.

According to Charanchi, “The CNG categorically and unequivocally opposes the recent outrageous 50% increase in the nation’s telecom rates that was approved by the NCC.”

At a time when Nigerians are experiencing severe economic hardship, the CNG asserts that this decision is nothing less than an attack on the livelihoods and dignity of those who have been left economically impoverished.

“We are horrified by the insensitivity and lack of vision displayed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and the NCC in authorizing such a disproportionate pricing increase.

The CNG notes that this decision is completely unjustifiable at a time when millions of Nigerians are fighting to make ends meet as a result of hyper-inflation, growing unemployment, and the widespread consequences of economic mismanagement.

“The NCC cannot justify the increase by citing industry sustainability and operational cost increases without taking into account the current economic realities passed down to average Nigerians.”

The coalition also stated that the action is incredibly unreasonable and misrepresents the situation of the people, claiming that millions of struggling telecom users were excluded from the consultation process before to the approval of the rise.

The CNG demanded that the pricing increases be immediately halted, arguing that telecommunications services should not be viewed as a luxury but rather as a survival essential.

“We argue that by approving this hike, the NCC has further widened the country’s digital divide and endangered the average Nigerian’s access to communication, education, healthcare, and commerce,” the CNG stated.

According to the group, the country’s economic realities are in line with a tariff hike of no more than 10%.