SERAP

By Uzair Adam

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its recent decision to increase Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fees, calling it “unlawful, unfair, unreasonable, and unjust.”

The CBN recently introduced a new charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal from an ATM not located within a bank’s branch premises.

Additionally, withdrawals at shopping centers, airports, and standalone cash points will attract a N100 fee along with a surcharge of up to N500 per N20,000 withdrawal.

In a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking a judicial review of the CBN’s decision, arguing that the policy contradicts the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018.

The organization wants the court to declare the fee hike illegal and issue an injunction preventing its enforcement.

According to SERAP, the increase disproportionately affects low-income Nigerians, creating financial barriers for those who rely on ATMs for daily transactions.

The group further claims that the move violates constitutional provisions, consumer protection laws, and international human rights obligations.

SERAP’s legal team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, asserts that the new charges should be borne by banks and their shareholders rather than being passed onto consumers.

They argue that the CBN is acting in a manner that prioritizes banks’ profits over the welfare of Nigerians, with many banks declaring substantial annual profits.

The lawsuit also challenges the CBN’s authority to unilaterally impose such fees without the consent of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). SERAP is urging the court to nullify the CBN’s circular on the fee hike and restrain banks and financial institutions from implementing the charges.

A date for the hearing of the case has not yet been set.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over what it described as an “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable” increase of 50% in telecom tariffs.

The NCC recently approved the increase, raising the cost of a one-minute call from N11 to N16.5, the price of 1GB of data from N287.5 to N431.25, and SMS charges from N4 to N6.

In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025), SERAP argued that the hike violates citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international treaties.

According to a statement released on Sunday by SERAP, titled “SERAP wants court to stop Tinubu govt, telcos from implementing 50% telecom tariff hike,” the organization stated: “The unilateral decision by the NCC to approve a 50% hike in telecom tariffs is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unfair. This action contravenes both the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 and international human rights standards.”

SERAP’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Sa’id there is a failure in consultiu key stakeholders like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission before implementing the hike.

He added, “The NCC’s action undermines citizens’ right to seek, receive, and impart information through communication media without discrimination.”

SERAP also lamented the economic challenges Nigerians face, referencing a report by the National Bureau of Statistics that revealed 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor.

The statement noted, “This tariff hike is happening at a time when Nigerians are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis. Many are struggling to afford basic necessities, let alone higher communication costs.”

The organization is seeking a court declaration that the hike violates constitutional provisions and an injunction to halt its implementation.

SERAP is also calling for the nullification of the NCC’s decision, describing it as “extortive, unreasonable, and a breach of due process.”

Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, said, “Access to communication is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right. The government and the NCC have a duty to ensure that telecommunication services remain affordable, especially for the millions of Nigerians living in poverty.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

President Muhammadu Buhari has been given a 72-hour deadline by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to rescind the decision to block the mobile connections of 72 million Nigerians.

SERAP tells the president to order the Minister of Communications, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to immediately revoke the seemingly unlawful decision to prevent over 72 million active telecommunication subscribers from making calls on their SIMs.

Recall that the Federal Government ‘directed’ telecoms firms this week to stop outgoing calls on all unlinked lines after the verification deadline passed on March 31.

Over 72 million users have been prevented from making calls as a result of the directive.

SERAP, on the other hand, said that prohibiting people from making calls constituted an infringement on their right to free expression.