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Opinion

GHANA, RAISING THE BAR OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

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BY BOLAJI AFOLABI

The out-going year has being a special one; variously described, and decorated with flowing and fitting epaulettes. To many people, 2024 is a year of elections. As though planned, about four-dozen countries in Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East conducted national and regional elections into various legislative and presidential positions. Elections held in the United States of America; Britain; Portugal; Finland; Uruguay; India; Mexico; Jordan; South Korea; Croatia; and Pakistan. Others included Dominican Republic; Belgium; Austria; Venezuela; Indonesia; Sri Lanka; Syria; North Korea; Romania; Bolivia; and Bangladesh. Less popular, and little known nations including El Salvador; Azerbaijan; Taiwan; Panama; San Marino; Solomon Islands; Bhutan; Palau; Tuvalu; and Mongolia also made the cut.

Africa is not left out. About twelve countries in the continent conducted presidential, legislative or local elections. In Comoros; aptly dubbed small archipelago off Africa’s east coast, President Azali Assoumani; former military officer who staged successful coup in 1999 won fourth-term election into the country’s highest office. The Frelimo Party, and Daniel Chapo won the presidential elections in Mozambique, extending it’s dominance to almost 50 years. In Namibia, the SWAPO party consolidated it’s total grip of power and governance by electing Ms. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the country’s first female president. Though Cyril Ramaphosa won re-election as South Africa’s president but his party, the African National Congress (ANC) failed to post outright majority, for the first time since Late Nelson Mandela emerged the “rainbow” country’s president in 1994. The ANC had to form a unity government; coalition with other political parties.

Elsewhere, history was made in Senegal, a country that prides herself as the home of democracy in Africa. Forty-four year old Bassirou Diomaye Faye became president in a largely one-sided elections. By this pace-setting feat, the country’s opposition leader who was released from prison few weeks to the elections, became African’s youngest (democratically elected) president. In Botswana, for the first time in 6 decades, an opposition leader; Duma Gideon Boko was elected as president. The development was a milestone as the country has being governed by one party in about 60 years. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda won with about 100 percent of the votes to extend his foothold for close to 30 years.

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The December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana was unique in several ways. Regarded as West Africa’s democracy lodestar, the elections emerged as arguably the most predictable since the country transitioned to democratic rule in January 1993. Given the preponderance of economic, social, political, and development challenges, many people in various platforms, and handles had postulated victory for the opposition. Like most countries in Africa, Ghana, the 2nd largest cocoa producer in the world, was battling with pervading inflation; accentuating poverty; spiraling depreciation of the national currency; and escalating indebtedness. Also the nation got stuck with non-ingenious foreign borrowings; multifaceted corruption; disabling unemployment; decapitated infrastructure; illegal, mindless gold mining (famously called “galamsey”); leadership ineptness; and citizens unbelievability in government.

Little wonder at the end of the December 7 elections, a new dawn was opened in Ghana’s democratic odyssey. The National Democratic Congress, (NDC) defeated the New Patriotic Party, (NPP) in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. The NDC’s John Dramani Mahama recorded 6,328,397 (56.55 percent) as against NPP’s Mahamudu Bawumia who polled 4,657,304 (41.61 percent) to emerge as the president-elect. At the parliamentary elections, the NDC won 186, while NPP got 81 out of the 267 results declared so far in the 276-legislative body. The parliamentary result is historic and trail-blazing in many ways. The NDC did not only achieved the threshold of 139 seats to have majority but won 47 seats more, and thus became the first political party to achieve this enviable record. The NDC’s electoral triumph was comprehensive, and overwhelming such that Bawumia of NPP conceded victory while few of the results were just being declared by the country’s Electoral Commission headed by Ms. Jean Adukwei Mensa, who was appointed in July 2018, and allegedly accused of being pro-NPP.

The Ghana’s elections presents remarkable, and inspiring templates. The NDC’s candidate, former Ghana’s vice president (2009 – 2012) became president after the death (while in office) of John Atta Mills in July 2012. Mahama, like Goodluck Jonathan subsequently got elected for a 4-year term in December 2012, when he defeated the out-going president, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was the NPP candidate then. Mahama, by the way lost his re-election aspiration in 2016 to Nana Akufo-Addo. By that defeat, like Jonathan, Mahama became the first and only sitting Ghanian president to lose elections while in office. Mahama, whose late father; Emmanuel Adama Mahama was a former member of parliament, Minister and Adviser in Nkrumah and Liman’s respective government lost again to Nana Akufo-Addo in 2020, still as the NDC candidate.

NDC’s victory meant it avoided the negative honour of being the first party to be in opposition after three consecutive elections. Conversely, it denied the NPP of becoming Ghana’s first party to break the circle of eight years dominance. Thus, since 1992 when Ghana embraced democracy, no political party has won beyond 2 consecutive terms at the country’s presidential election. Bawumia, the 61 year old out-going vice president, and NPP candidate; Head of Nana Akufo-Addo’s Economic Management Team, and former Deputy Governor, Ghana’s Central Bank, arguably becomes the country’s first-sitting number 2 man to lose presidential elections. Mahama’s running mate; Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who was his former Education Minister made history as the first female vice president of the country. That she was picked as running mate; second time in two consecutive elections, is a measure of Mahama’s confidence in the capacities of the 72 years old retired academic, and his believe, respect for gender inclusivity in governance.

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As expected, the thrills and frills of Ghana elections has generated reactions. Across the world, the effects and lessons of the polls keeps reverberating in public discourses within and outside Africa. Given the unique, and salient features and outcomes of the elections, many people in Nigeria have learnt their voices to it. The deluge of comments and opinions are far-reaching and encompassing. From policy makers to politicians, institutions, and individuals, many Nigerians are having “their say” on the matter. While few of the comments are logical, some lacked merit, and many are outrightly deceptive, cynical, and comical. They can be described as ego-tripping, and tongue-foolery.

One is happy that the opposition parties are sounding upbeat, and brimming with confidence that the Ghana-experience can happen in Nigeria in 2027. Few opposition leaders even pontificate that with Ghana’s NDC having similar logo-colour with the PDP, it is hopeful that the umbrella party have realistic chances of re-capturing political power in 2027. It is good to dream but such should be backed with very realistic, and focussed doggedness. Perhaps it is trite to reiterate that election winning goes beyond similarities of logo, and colour. The PDP; being the major opposition party should show the way to others in it’s group.

True Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections holds once every 4 years; like Nigeria but can one rightly equate party politics in both countries? On the writer’s first visit to Ghana in 2011, after interaction with different categories of people, it was evidently clear that our neighbors, though smaller in population and geographical size are ahead of our dear country in many ways. The reality is that in Ghana, politics is built on ideologies, and ingrained on members from generation to generation. Dramani’s long history with the NDC, and Nana Akufo-Addo’s stay with the NPP are obvious proofs of the party culture, focus, and discipline in Ghana. Party leaders and members are resolute to swim or sink with their respective parties not minding results of elections. Dramani, since he lost the presidential election to Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016, stayed with the NDC by frontally playing his role as the leader, and face of opposition. Happily, his consistency, reliability, doggedness, and commitment was rewarded by Ghanaians at the December 7 elections.

Do we have a semblance of similitude in Nigeria. Here, it is bad that almost all the political parties do not have known ideologies. Even where they have, are they followed with iron-cast resoluteness and believe? Political parties are mainly, and merely used as special purpose vehicles to gain power, and have access to the perks of office. The common, and easily noticeable feature among majority of our politicians is “jumpology.” They regal in shameless, rudderless, and unprincipled gale of defections from party to party after every election circle. Painfully, this disturbing trend has become normalized since 1999, such that very few politicians have not moved from one divide to the other. Sadly, unlike Ghana, politics here is driven by greed, selfish desires, and personal ambitions; which are most cases inordinate and self-seeking.

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True democracy can only thrive where there is credible opposition that can effectively and efficiently check and balance the ruling party. Rather than making juicy comments, and salacious opinions about the reenactment of the Ghana political heroics in Nigeria, politicians should do the needful. In doing this, there must be sincere house-cleaning whence some politicians would have to go upstairs and assume advisory roles in their respective parties. Some would have to “sacrifice” their ambitions to various positions. Many should consciously imbibe the true meaning of politics as service to the people. True party discipline should be enthroned. Without operationalizing these, and more necessary fundamentals, expectations of the Ghana-experience will remain a vaunting ambition, and mirage.

* BOLAJI AFOLABI, a development communications specialist was with the Office of Public Affairs in The Presidency.

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Opinion

Why Women Cheat, By Oreva Godwin

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Research has shown that infidelity gaps between women and men has closed up considerably. Cheating in marriage by both gender has become almost normal, because lots of women boldly come out now to admit to their friends that they cheat on their husbands.

The usual reason coined for infidelity by women includes, absence of love, lack of attention from the man, no good sex, lack of money, husbands are male chauvinist, cowards ,or that they caught their husbands in homosexual acts, etc.

Most writers have drawn conclusions, that women cheat when they are unhappy in their marriages, that men push their wives to the arms of other men. But are men really to be blamed for a cheating wife? Yes and no. We are not debunking the fact that most men lack the ethics of a husband and sometimes leave their wives to play the role of a single parent, or even make their wives feel unloved.

But in today’s discourse, we shall x-ray the dark sides of a lot of women that people fail to realise exists. Most women have very high libido; their sex drive is usually high. They have as much sex drive like most men and in that state of craving, they can sleep with any man that catches their fancy.

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Some women love varieties, just as men also love varieties. Some women easily get bored staying long with one man. They long for different sex experiences, with some bit of craziness. No matter how good a man is to them, they will appreciate, but still go out to get their satisfaction.

And hey, these women are not possessed. It’s like saying a man that sleeps with different women is possessed. Their body function like that of men and the high time we admit that it’s real for such ladies, the better for us all.

I have read articles suggesting that women won’t’ cheat when they are in love. It’s pretty funny for anyone to imagine such fallacies, I must say. So funny indeed, how people think they know women enough to write about them. Some women even use themselves as grounds to conclude that all women function alike

don’t use my personal experiences to draw up conclusions about why women behave in a particular way. Instead , I ask questions, engage people in discussions, allow them the freedom to express their minds without being judgemental. Don’t forget our slogan: “We listen, we don’t judge”. I’m an exposed mind and respect people’s choices in life.

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A woman can love you and still cheat on you. Some women can simply cheat because they consider the man too conventional. As a man, you may be huge down there, know how to satisfy her, but refuse to give her a head. Yes, a woman can cheat on you just beause of a head. To some women that’s the spice of sex. They love you, but can’t deprive themselves of what they enjoy receiving, all because you are too conventional to experiment

Some women also cheat because they did not marry their heartthrob. They married who was ready, Haven’t you seen lots of women cheating on their partners with their ex?. That mindset of marrying who is ready, even when the man is not their spec or someone they love, has led lots of women to cheat.

Research has shown that most first born children, are not the biological children of their fathers. Some women sleep with their ex-lovers or boyfriends few days to their marriage, resulting in pregnancies that are then pinned on their unsuspecting husbands.

The rate at which some married men enjoy sleeping with married women is another factor to consider as to why women cheat. This trend really amazes me. These are top politicians, men of high calibre who cannot do without sleeping with married women. These men don’t mind using money to entice the women.

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It is said that sex with married women pays far better than sex with single ladies. That is the men are willing to pay huge amount of money just to lay with married women. They may even award them huge contracts, connections and appointments. Truth is, the rate at which married women have become sex escorts is alarming. There are reports that,married sex escorts dominate the sex escort market, thereby competing with single ladies in the business.

There are women who cheat as a form of payback. I know a woman who caught her husband cheating, went out and cheated on her husband with a younger guy in revenge. Her husband later got to know and accused her of infidelity. The shocker was that she boldly admitted cheating on him and reason for doing so. Then she threatened the man: “Next time you cheat on me, I will cheat back”.

I know some of my dearest readers expect the man to send her back to her father’s house that very day. What some of us do not know is that not everyone has the heart for divorce and moreover, what makes you feel the next woman you will marry won’t be worse?

I know of a crazy girl who happened to be my senior in secondary school and lived on same street with me. She was known to be so promiscuous and had slept with half of the boys and teachers in our school. She dated four guys on the same street, dated two friends, and had a reputation for sleeping around. she was wild for a teenager. One-day, I over heard her telling her friends that, she couldn’t imagine herself dating only one guy. She told them outrightly that she would be too bored to cope. She told them boldly that it would take two or more men to satisfy her. She’s married now with kids. And I wonder how she is coping with her marriage.

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A lady once boldly declared that when she gets married, she will retain two guys outside her husband to be servicing her engine, especially when her husband is out of town. She told her friends that she couldn’t imagine being loyal sexually to one man.

Let’s use Delta as another case study. There are parts of the state with so called traditional means of catching a cheating wife. This tradition is common in Isoko and other parts of the state. It’s a way of protecting the men from cheating women. Many of the women,in order to avoid the evil trap, indulged in lesbianism. That way, they are able to catch some fun without repercussions.

But, there are women who are able to bypass the sacrilege. Just to sustain cheating with the opposite sex. They go as far as to mortuary homes, buy remnants of water used in washing corpses and use same to bath. It is believed that by so doing, they become dead to the gods; the gods are unable to visit the cheating women with any curses or evil.

Other women are said to have protection charms to ward off any evil that comes with sleeping around. That way they are not caught by any deity or tradition. But the question remains. If the men are horrible and you are not happy in the marriage, why go through such stress? Why not just seek divorce and be free to catch the fun you desperately want? Why do unthinkable things, just to cheat?

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Its not in my place to judge, or paint women who cheat on their husbands in a bad light or portray them as horrible people. I only set out to expose some of the dark reasons why women cheat and to let the men know that we are not as emotionally weak as they often portray most women.

It’s just sad that the society we live in favors men and not women when it relates to sexual expression. Imagine a deity invited to each family, for the sole purpose of catching a cheating wife, while the men could cheat freely. Truly, it’s a man’s world and we women are forced to live in it. This is Africa.

●First published in The Southerner of January 30, 2025

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Opinion

CBN: Navigating the process for monetary stability

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By Ibrahim Modibbo

The 2025 Monetary Policy Forum, declared open by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, reinforces the apex bank’s steadfast commitment to price stability and macro-economic reforms.

The theme: “Managing the disinflation process,” resonates with the nation’s current economic realities, where inflationary pressures persist amid global and domestic shocks. The governor’s remarks reflect a balanced mix of optimism, pragmatism, and a forward looking approach to monetary policy.

His speech emphasizes the CBN’s strategic measures in taming inflation, restoring foreign exchange stability, and implementing financial sector reforms that position Nigeria for sustainable economic growth. Cardoso framed the forum as an essential intellectual platform for examining monetary policy challenges with precision. Unlike broader economic conferences, this event fosters evidence based discussions that shape policy direction. In emphasizing the need for clear communication, he acknowledges the critical role of transparency and stakeholder engagement in building confidence in monetary policy decisions.

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This emphasis on dialogue is significant, particularly as monetary policy remains a powerful yet complex tool requiring careful calibration. A major take-away from the governor’s speech is his review of the economic landscape over the past year.

Nigeria has faced persistent inflationary pressures, driven by both structural challenges and monetary dynamics. As of December 2024, headline inflation stood at 34.80 percent, with core inflation remaining a major concern despite some moderation in food inflation.

The governor rightly points to domestic structural bottlenecks, exchange rate pass through effects, and energy price adjustments as factors exacerbating inflationary trends.
While acknowledging these supply-side constraints, he also recognizes the role of past liquidity injections in fueling demand driven inflation.

This candid assessment is crucial in understanding Nigeria’s inflationary progression, as it highlights the multifaceted nature of the challenge.

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The governor’s remarks on liquidity injections and their unintended consequences reflect an awareness of policy trade-offs. He notes that unorthodox monetary interventions, particularly in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic, led to an excess liquidity overhang that did not translate into productivity growth.

The resulting inflationary pressures and exchange rate volatility necessitated a shift towards a more disciplined and coordinated monetary policy approach. This shift is evident in the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) tightening cycle, which saw the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) rise by a cumulative 875 basis points to 27.50 percent in 2024. Similarly, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for Other Depository Corporations (ODCs) was raised by 1,750 basis points to 50.00 percent, a bold move aimed at mopping up excess liquidity.

These decisive interventions, the governor argues, were necessary to prevent inflation from spiraling further. Counter- factual estimates suggest that without such measures, inflation could have surged to 42.81percent by the end of 2024.

This assertion stresses the importance of proactive policy responses in mitigating economic distortions.

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The commitment to tightening reflects the CBN’s resolve to anchor inflation expectations while ensuring that monetary policy remains an effective tool for macro-economic stability. Beyond inflation control, the CBN has implemented critical financial sector reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience.

The unification of multiple exchange rate windows has improved efficiency in the foreign exchange market, leading to a notable increase in remittances through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs).

The governor cites a79.4 percent rise in remittances to $4.18billion in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to $2.33billion in the same period of 2023.

This reform, alongside the clearance of a $7.0 billion backlog of FX commitments, has bolstered market confidence and enhanced liquidity with a rising external reserves of $40billion as of December, 2024. Another significant policy shift is the lifting of restrictions on 41items previously banned from accessing the official FX market. The reversal of this 2015 policy signals a more market-driven approach aimed at improving supply side dynamics.

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Additionally, the introduction of new minimum capital requirements for banks, effective by March 2026, is a forward thinking measure designed to strengthen the financial system’s resilience. By ensuring that banks are adequately capitalized, this policy aligns with Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1trillion economy, reinforcing the stability and global competitiveness of the banking sector.

The governor also showcases the launch of the Women’s Financial Inclusion Initiative (WIFI) under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

This initiative addresses gender disparities in financial access, empowering women through digital tools, education, and financial services. Inclusive finance remains a key pillar of sustainable economic development, and the CBN’s focus on bridging financial gaps reflects a broader commitment to equitable growth.
In a further effort to instill transparency and efficiency in the FX market, the CBN recently introduced the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Code.

This framework, built on six core principles, aims to enhance integrity, fairness, and trust within the financial ecosystem. Such measures are essential in attracting foreign investment and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms.

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Cardoso’s speech also contextualizes Nigeria’s disinflation efforts within the global monetary landscape.

He acknowledges emerging optimism regarding potential improvements in capital flows to emerging markets, particularly as advanced economies transition toward monetary easing. However, he cautions that Nigeria’s ability to attract these inflows hinges on investor confidence in domestic reforms.

The need to deliver positive real returns on investment accentuates the importance of maintaining macro-economic stability and ensuring that inflationary trends do not erode gains.

Looking ahead, the governor stresses that the shift from unorthodox to orthodox monetary policy is crucial for restoring confidence and strengthening policy credibility. Encouragingly, early signs of progress are evident.

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FX liquidity is improving, and the naira is gradually aligning with market fundamentals, creating a more predictable environment for economic activities. While acknowledging that challenges remain, Cardoso expresses confidence that Nigeria’s policies are setting the stage for sustainable economic stability.
The call for collaboration is another vital point in his remarks.

Managing disinflation requires coordinated efforts between monetary and fiscal authorities, alongside active engagement with the private sector and civil society. This alignment is necessary to anchor inflation expectations, maintain investor confidence, and ensure that economic policies translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

The governor reiterated the importance of a forward looking, adaptive, and resilient monetary policy framework. By prioritizing price stability, financial sector resilience, and macro-economic reforms, the CBN is laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.

The 2025 Monetary Policy Forum thus serves as a fundamental platform for generating actionable insights that will shape Nigeria’s economic direction.
Essentially, Cardoso’s speech reflects a well calibrated approach to managing inflationary pressures while fostering economic resilience. His emphasis on disciplined monetary policy, financial sector reforms, and investor confidence corresponds with Nigeria’s broader economic aspirations. As the country navigates the complexities of disinflation, the CBN’s commitment to transparency, coordination, and policy credibility will be instrumental in achieving long-term stability.
Dr. Modibbo, a development communication scholar writes from Abuja

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Opinion

NCC’s 50% Telecom Tariff Hike: A Necessary Step for Industry Survival or a Burden on Nigerians?

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By Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently approved a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs, a decision that has sparked debates across the country. While telecom operators argued that the hike is necessary for the industry’s survival amid rising costs, consumer rights groups and labor unions see it as an additional financial burden on Nigerians already struggling with inflation and economic instability.

As the new tariff policy takes effect, stakeholders remain divided over its implications. This feature examines the reasons behind the increase, its impact on consumers and the economy, and possible ways forward.

Why Did the NCC Approve the 50% Tariff Hike?

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Nigeria’s telecom industry has operated under a fixed pricing structure for over a decade, despite rising inflation, currency devaluation, and increased operational costs. Telecom operators, including MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile, have repeatedly called for a tariff review, citing the following challenges:

1. Inflation and Naira Depreciation

The cost of importing telecom infrastructure—such as network equipment, fiber optics, and software—has skyrocketed due to the fall in the value of the naira against the dollar. Many telecom components are priced in dollars, making them significantly more expensive than they were a decade ago.

2. High Operational Costs

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Telecom operators spend billions of naira on fuel and electricity to power base stations, especially in remote and underserved areas. Additionally, the insecurity in parts of the country has increased operational risks, forcing companies to spend more on security.

3. Heavy Taxation and Multiple Levies

The telecom industry is one of the most taxed sectors in Nigeria. Operators face multiple levies from federal, state, and local governments, adding to their financial strain.

To address these challenges, the NCC opted for a 50% increase, rejecting an initial 100% hike proposal from telecom operators. This compromise aims to keep the industry financially stable while minimizing the impact on consumers.

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Public Reactions: Backlash from Consumers and Labour Unions

While telecom operators welcome the tariff hike, many Nigerians see it as a harsh economic decision at a time of financial hardship. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other advocacy groups have condemned the move, calling it “insensitive” and “unjustifiable.”

NLC President Joe Ajaero announced a nationwide protest scheduled for February 4, 2025, demanding the reversal of the tariff increase and urging the government to take action against rising living costs.

“The government should be reducing costs for Nigerians, not increasing them,” Ajaero stated. “This decision will only make life harder for the average Nigerian.”

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Many consumers share this sentiment, arguing that data, call, and SMS rates are already expensive compared to the average income level. With food prices, fuel costs, and transportation fares rising, the added burden of higher telecom bills is seen as unfair and unnecessary.

Telecom Industry’s Perspective: A Necessary Adjustment

Despite public opposition, industry experts insist that the tariff hike is necessary to sustain Nigeria’s telecom sector. The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) supports the increase, projecting that it will:

Attract over $150 million in new investment, boosting the industry.

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Expand 4G network coverage to 94% of the population, connecting about 9 million more people, including 2 million in rural areas.

Create approximately 2 million jobs in the telecom sector.

Generate N1.6 trillion in tax revenue for the government.

Dr. Bode Ajibade, an ICT expert, believed the increase is long overdue.

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“If we continue with low tariffs while costs keep rising, telecom companies will struggle to maintain service quality. In the long run, poor network coverage and slower internet will hurt consumers more than a price increase,” he said.

What’s the Way Forward? Possible Solutions

As tensions rise between consumers, labor unions, and telecom operators, some experts suggest a more balanced approach to the tariff adjustment. Possible solutions include:

1. Phased Implementation

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Instead of an immediate 50% increase, the NCC could introduce a gradual increase over 6 to 12 months. This would give consumers time to adjust while still allowing telecom operators to recover their costs.

2. Government Intervention to Reduce Costs

Rather than passing all financial burdens onto consumers, the government could ease operational costs for telecom companies by:

Reducing multiple taxation that inflates telecom expenses.

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Providing incentives for alternative energy solutions to reduce reliance on expensive fuel and generators.

Investing in telecom infrastructure, especially in underserved areas, to lower expansion costs for operators.

3. Special Consumer Relief Measures

To protect vulnerable Nigerians, the NCC could mandate affordable packages for:

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Students who rely on mobile data for education.

Low-income earners who need access to communication services.

Small businesses that depend on telecom services for digital transactions.

If implemented, these solutions could ensure industry sustainability while minimizing the financial impact on consumers.

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Conclusion: A Delicate Balancing Act

The NCC’s 50% tariff hike represents a difficult but necessary step in maintaining the long-term health of Nigeria’s telecom industry. While it addresses the rising costs faced by operators, it also places additional financial pressure on consumers who are already struggling with economic hardship.

The key challenge now is finding a middle ground—one that keeps the telecom sector competitive without making communication unaffordable for Nigerians.

As the February 4 protest date approaches, the government must decide whether to review the tariff policy, introduce relief measures, or maintain the current plan. Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain—the future of Nigeria’s telecom industry and digital economy depends on striking the right balance between business sustainability and consumer protection.

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What’s your take on the NCC’s tariff hike? Should the government intervene, or is this a necessary step for industry survival? Share your thoughts.

*Lukman Laleye Babalola, Publisher Emporium Reporters online and Emporium Magazine.He writes from Abuja 08037469328. [email protected]

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