The joke writes itself again
Nigerians are not settling for the recent telecoms tariff hike
Good morning, Big Brains. Today’s newsletter is interesting for many reasons. Can you still remember Nigeria’s 2006 census? I don’t remember a thing but let’s pretend like I’m a millenial. It looks like we’ll be creating new census memories soon.
- Margaret
Word count: ~ 800
Reading time ~ 3 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
SERAP doesn’t want you to pay extra money for calls and data
Nigeria is pushing for another census
The Big Deal
SERAP doesn’t want you to pay extra money for calls and data
In Nigeria, the joke writes and rewrites itself – except this time, nobody’s laughing. Especially not the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
By now, you should already know that after a series of back-and-forth between the government and telecommunications companies, the government has officially approved a 50% hike in the cost of data, calls, and texts.
We can’t say we’re surprised because we kind of called it, but we can’t say we’re pleased either. SERAP, on the other hand, is mad about this hike and is threatening to drag the federal government through legal mud.
They’ve given the FG and telecommunications companies a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the tariff hike, labelling it unlawful and exploitative. The legal and advocacy organisation argues that the hike violates Nigerians' rights to affordable communication and has threatened legal action if the decision isn’t reversed.
Why is this a big deal?
When it comes to fighting for Nigerians, SERAP stays ready with the receipts and the legal ammo. This hike will push data plans like the popular ₦1,000-for-1.5GB bundle up to ₦1,500, making it harder for millions to afford basic communication services.
If we’re not calling out FG for putting telco guys in a tough spot where they have to choose between surviving the inflation and pleasing customers, we should at least say “thank you, SERAP” for standing up to the big boys and demanding answers.
This isn’t SERAP’s first rodeo. Remember when they came for the FG over the unconstitutional barring of sims over National Identification Numbers? They didn’t get the full win there, but their challenge led to public pushback.
If SERAP wins this case, the FG and telcos might be forced to roll back the hike or, at the very least, provide a clearer justification for it. Even if the case doesn’t lead to an immediate reversal, it’s still a win because it sends a clear message to the government – you can’t keep making decisions that affect Nigerians and expect them to not react.
SERAP dragging FG through legal mud is the kind of drama we’re here for. If they pull this off, it will be a reminder that sometimes, you can fight the system—and win.
Nigeria is pushing for another census
The giant of Africa (can we still claim this title?) has been playing with its population data since 2006. In 2023, the Buhari-led administration promised to organise Nigeria’s first digitised census but the tech bros in charge of this census must have gone on indefinite leave because it never happened. Actually, the administration pulled a sus move and assigned census duties to President Tinubu before he could even settle into Aso Rock.
But now, we have the Senate’s word that there will be a national census before 2027. During a budget meeting with the National Population Commission (NPC) boss, Nasir Isa Kwarra, Senator Abdul Ningi made it clear there would be no rest for anyone until a census happens. The Senate even plans to drag Tinubu into a meeting to make sure this happens ASAP but knowing Nigeria, we’ll only believe it when we see it.
To be fair, the NPC has been putting in some work. They’ve mapped out enumeration areas and stockpiled over 760,000 technology gadgets to quicken the process but there’s one catch: no census can happen until Tinubu officially gives the green light. And so far? Crickets.
Why is this census so important?
It’s not just about knowing how many people reside in Nigeria; it’s about planning. We need accurate numbers (fun fact–we’ve been relying on estimated numbers) to tackle unemployment, security, and other problems we face daily. If this census doesn’t happen soon, we’ll keep making policies based on vibes and outdated data.
We’re hoping Tinubu will finally do what Buhari couldn’t because it’s embarrassing for the country that its last census is as old as kids turning 19 this year.
This Week’s Big Question
“What's your take on a possible TikTok ban in Nigeria?”
Brenda’s response - “They should ban it and ban Twitter, too. We need to get serious in this country.”
You can also share your response here, and if it’s as interesting Brenda’s, we’ll feature it in the next edition.
The Big Picks
How to Take Legal Action Against Your Toxic Nigerian Boss: The era of leaving wicked employers in God’s hands is over. Now, let’s teach you how to drag them to court. From sexual harassment in the workplace to unfair termination, here’s how to legally deal with that toxic boss.
Tinubu Hasn’t Kept His Manifesto Promise To Nigerian Women: If these promises were debts, Tinubu would owe every woman in the country at least ₦35,000.