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Reps Urge FG to Stop Planned Telecom Tariff Increase

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has directed the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to put the planned increase in telecom tariffs on hold until service quality improves.

This resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance on the “NEED FOR THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NOT TO APPROVE THE IMPENDING HIKE IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TARIFFS”, by Rep. Obuku Oforji, member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma Opokuma Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State on Tuesday T plenary.

Rep. Oforji recalled that after a meeting with mobile network operators in Abuja on January 8, 2025, the minister hinted at an impending tariff hike. According to him, telecom companies have been pushing for an increase, with some proposing a 100 percent hike. However, Tijani clarified that while there would be an increase, it would not be as high as 100 percent, and the NCC would determine and announce the new rates.

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The lawmaker explained that telecom operators justified the planned hike by citing rising investment costs, the need for better network infrastructure, and the increasing demand for digital services in sectors such as education, banking, and healthcare.

Oforji expressed worries that “the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has rejected the proposed increase in tariffs, describing it as insensitive and a further burden on consumers already grappling with economic hardship, and poor network service delivery.
“It is imperative that the telecommunications companies improve on their service delivery (poor network), which Nigerians have been yearning for in years, before embarking on the increase in their tariffs.”
He also expressed concern that the far reaching effects of these price hikes will deepen financial struggles for the average Nigerian, threaten the country’s vision of leveraging technology to drive economic revival, exacerbate poverty and widen existing inequalities, hitting lower income families the hardest.
“Affordable connectivity is a must for progress in critical sectors like digital banking, education, healthcare, agriculture and e- governance. Informal sector workers who depend on affordable mobile data to access gig work opportunities may find it harder to stay connected.
“Saddened that those small businesses, which rely heavily on affordable telecommunication for operations, marketing, and customer engagement, will face additional financial burden.
“Imagine a scenario where a 10 percent increase is approved. It is estimated that a 10 percent increase in telecommunications costs would reduce small business profitability up to 7 percent, potentially leading to closure of businesses,” he added.

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Appeal Court halts Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday halted the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II’s as the Emir of Kano.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang unanimously halted the implementation of the January 10 judgement, which vacated the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment by a Kano State High Court, which it held was done without jurisdiction.

The judgement, which was delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment was done without the required jurisdiction and ordered the transfer of the suit to the Kano State High Court.

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However, ruling on the fresh applications with numbers CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, the appellate court agreed that the applications seeking to halt the enforcement of the earlier judgement pending the appeal before the Supreme Court were competent and meritorious.

“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” he said.

Justice Abang also noted that the subject matter before the court needed to be preserved because the applicant had served as emir for five years before his removal, adding that he deserved the right to protection.

On January 10, Justice Kolawole, in vacating the order against Sanusi II’s appointment, held that the matter, being a chieftaincy dispute, ought to have been determined by the high court of Kano State rather than the Federal High Court, which he described as “a grave error”.

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The Federal High Court in Kano, presided by Justice Abubakar Liman, had on June 20, 2024, nullified the Kano State Government’s Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.

In the fundamental rights enforcement suit by Aminu Baba-Dan’Agundi, the presiding judge further directed parties, including the Kano State House of Assembly, to maintain the status quo during the reign of Emir Ado Bayero.

However, the appellate court in its ruling, cited Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act to hold that the matter was a chieftaincy and state legislative dispute and not a fundamental rights matter, and such ought to have been taken before the Kano State High Court or the FCT High Court.

“The proper order to make is to order the 1st respondent (Baba-Dan’Agundi) to transfer the pending suit before the Federal High Court to the high court of Kano State where the chief judge shall assign it to a judge who has not been previously involved in the hearing of the suit,” he said.

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The judge awarded the cost of N500,000 against Dan’Agundi and in favour of the Kano State House of Assembly.

However, following the opinions of the presiding justice, Justice Mohammed Mustapha and Justice Abdul Dogo that the right order was to strike out Dan’Agundi’s suit filed at the Federal High Court and not to transfer same, the matter was struck out.

The five appeals — CA/KN/126/2024 between the state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/140/2023 state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/142/2024 Kano State Government and Dan’Agundi; CA/KN/200/2024 Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Attorney General of Kano State; and CA/KN/161/2020 Kano Government and Dan’Agundi emanated from the same issue before the Federal High Court

[Daily Trust]

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FG advises Nnamdi Kanu to renounce IPOB for his release

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media, Mr. Daniel Bwala, has advised leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to renounce his agitation and be release from jail.

One Somto Okonkwo in a verified X handle, @General_Somto, quoted Mr. Bwala as saying, “Nigeria Government Through Its Presidential Special Adviser, Daniel Bwala Has Told The Leader Of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu To Renounce Biafra And Promise Not To Agitate For Biafra Again, Before Talks For His Release From DSS Custody Will Commence

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El-Rufai’s son, Bashir campaigns for SDP, asks Nigerians to save country from ‘area boys’

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…tells Nigerians

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Bashir El-Rufai, son of erstwhile governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has urged Nigerians to join the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to save the country from ‘area boys’. Bashir stated this in a cryptic post on X on Friday, seemingly referring to President Bola Tinubu’s appointees, particularly from Lagos State. He wrote: “Join in saving this country from area boys”.

DAILY POST recalls that Bashir’s father, El-Rufai, recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the SDP.

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The Kaduna ex-governor had before his resignation become increasingly critical of the APC-led government under Tinubu. He also cited a widening disconnect between his personal values and the party’s current direction as the reason for his defection. Before now, El-Rufai had criticized Tinubu for only appointing his “boys” from Lagos into political offices. “The president’s appointments are not being made because the appointees are Yoruba, but because they are his own boys, and most of the appointments do not even reasonably cover the South-West,” El-Rufai said.

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