Abuja, Nigeria – Following the recent news circulating in Nigeria regarding the increase in both calls and internet data by telecom operators comes January 2025; the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has debunked the claims, stating that the commission is yet to receive any official documents from the operators.
Daily Episode gathered from News Central that the commission revealed that tariff hikes are beyond speculation as they are regulated rigorously with evidence and backed by data-driven.
As revealed by a source in the commission who requested anonymity, said upward tariff review was imminent; therefore, those behind rumors of a tariff hike were being economical with the truth.
According to him, “a regulation practice that is beyond tradition in NCC guides that any tariff review must undergo some process that requires approval from the commission’s management board.
Which, as I am speaking to you now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yet to appoint a management board for the NCC; in their absence, no one can act to review the tariff hike as widely spread in the country.
However, even when the board exists, after their approval, NCC engages consultants to study the proposed tariff review, which, after the consultant review, stakeholders will also be engaged to consider economic implications and factors to necessitate the review,” he said.
Researchers from different sectors, like academics, legal, and professional concerns, including the telecom operators, are also engaged in the process.
“After following the listed process, then NCC will begin the process of the price template to announce a timeline for implementation that will ensure both the operator’s and consumers’ readiness for the increase.
Despite a three-month notice requirement for such changes, none of the listed processes were duly followed. Then how do you expect the NCC to announce a tariff increase by next month, January 2025? Is just a rumor without evidence or truth behind it.
“Tariff reviews are data-driven and evidence-based decisions.”.
“We are aware that some telecom operators are complaining about the need for tariff hikes while giving the reason for the cost of operations, including diesel and petrol price increases in the country; they are looking for an excuse that is not realistic.
Under the existing price framework, the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) can adjust their tariffs independently, as the last tariff review was in the year 2013.
Despite the established template since 2013, it has not been fully utilized; hence I question the MNOs on why they can’t adjust their price individually.
Currently, the lowest an MNO can charge their subscribers is ₦6.40 per minute, with a maximum of ₦50 per minute, but today some MNOs charge ₦18, ₦15, or even less per minute; they don’t even bother to charge the maximum rate.
So far, the MNOs fear the consequences of losing subscribers if they attempt to increase the tariff; such is the major reason they want to shift blame to the NCC or government”. He added
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