Reps Call on Telcos to Suspend Tariffs Hike Implementation

The House also decried the poor service delivery from telecom operators and insisted that an increase in tariff should not happen until service improves.

The lawmakers ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, to suspend the tariff increase because of the country’s economic hardship.

They said Nigerians are already burdened by a high cost of living and that this was coming at the wrong time.

This was as telecommunications operators in the country began the implementation of the new tariff regime earlier approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

In addition to the lawmakers, subscribers on social media who used the services of telecom operators on Tuesday observed about a 50 per cent increase in the cost of calls, data and text messages.

Telcos like MTN Nigeria and Swift began the increment while Airtel and Globacom continued to observe the landscape before announcing theirs.

MTN Nigeria went beyond the approved 50 per cent in some of its increments. For internet data, MTN’s 1.8GB monthly plan is now 50 per cent per cent higher at N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000.

Other hikes see its 15GB plan now costs N6,500, a rise from N4,500 while its 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500.

People who use larger bundles will pay more comparatively as the 90-day 1.5TB plan jumped by 60 per cent from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan also increased by 60 per cent from N75,000 to N120,000.

SWIFT Networks has also increased internet prices by 50 per cent across the board.

On January 20, the NCC announced its approval for a 50 per cent tariff increase for telecoms operators in the country, the first of such since 2013.

The regulator said the price adjustment though lower than the “over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability”.

The NCC said the increase was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.