Many Nigerians have expressed concerns over plans by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the country’s telecommunication regulator to assent to the proposed 100 percent tariff hike in the telecom sector.
If the move scales through, they said it would further exacerbate their economic woes.
They said citizens do not deserve such policies that would force them to pay more for what has become daily needs, nursing the fear that the expected increment may force other associated products to hike their tariffs.
Investors King gathered that NCC has scheduled a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja for today to discuss the proposal.
Representatives from major consumer advocacy groups and other relevant industry stakeholders are expected to attend the meeting and deliberate on the implications of the price hike.
President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, who has been a major critic of the proposal, confirmed the development on Wednesday.
Ogungbanjo said, “I had mentioned earlier that there is a need for the NCC to discuss and iron out the issue. But Yesterday, I was invited to the meeting and it will be held on Thursday in Abuja at 2 pm.”
Telcos have submitted a proposal to the regulator, requesting a 100 percent hike in telecom tariffs.
The proposal is currently awaiting the final nod from the NCC, which has yet to decide on the matter.
The operators, a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy argued that this hike is necessary to offset rising operational costs, including increasing fuel prices and the depreciation of the naira.
The proposal has sparked concern among consumer rights groups, including the NATCOMS, which fear that such an increase could further strain Nigeria’s already financially burdened population.
The President of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Sola Ajulo, further confirmed the scheduled meeting during an appearance on a live television programme on Wednesday.
Ajulo emphasised that the discussions are critical for shaping the future of telecom pricing in the country.
“It’s crucial that all stakeholders are present and agree on the terms, as this will determine whether the government will approve a price increase and under what conditions,” she stated.
Ajulo noted that a price increase may be inevitable, given the economic challenges facing the sector.
However, she stressed that it is essential to ensure that the terms of any increase are measured and conducive to the welfare of consumers, especially in light of Nigeria’s current economic difficulties.
“A 100 per cent or even a 40 per cent increase may be too steep. Easing the tariff increase with measurable conditions could be a more reasonable solution,” Ajulo suggested.
It was reported earlier that mobile operators have agreed to channel the revenue from the proposed 100 percent tariff increase into major upgrades in network infrastructure and service quality.
This is a major condition for the telcos as they await final approval for the tariff hike, following discussions with the government and the NCC.
Already, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani has hinted Nigerians regarding the plan, saying it will increase but it may not be up to the proposed 100 per cent.
Reacting, a Nigerian, Bode Adeleke, asked the Federal Government to reconsider the proposal, saying it would be difficult for citizens to afford it.
“This is not what we are expecting at this time. The government should pity us and ensure that no policy or action should fetch us more pains. Already, we have been complaining of incessant deductions by telecom operators and now, they are thinking of higher tariffs? We don’t want it,” he said.
Another respondent, Mrs Amudah Bukola said it would attract inflation in complimentary products like sim cards and online classes, urging government to work on ameliorating “our challenges, not compounding then through expensive tariffs.”
