 has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take action against telecom operators for allegedly violating an agreement regarding tariff increases.){kind=link}
The National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS) has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take action against telecom operators for allegedly violating an agreement regarding tariff increases.
Speaking on Wednesday, NATCOMS President Deolu Ogunbanjo stated that any telecom provider implementing the new tariff hike was acting against an agreement between the NCC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Amid protests from the NLC, the federal government established a 10-member committee to review the proposed adjustments and provide recommendations within two weeks before any final decision would be made.
Ogunbanjo stressed that the NCC had pledged to convene a stakeholders’ meeting involving the NLC, telecom users, and service providers to deliberate on the tariff issue. However, he noted that the meeting had yet to take place, and the agreed-upon two-week period had not elapsed before telecom firms began enforcing the 50% increase.
“This is a direct violation, and those responsible should be sanctioned,” he declared.
He further revealed that NATCOMS had initially planned to challenge the tariff hike in court but opted to wait for the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting based on legal advice from its national general secretary.
“If the meeting has not yet been held, why should the tariff increase be implemented? The NCC must act swiftly to penalize operators for bypassing due process,” Ogunbanjo insisted.
A check on the *312# USSD code for MTN’s data plans confirmed the price adjustments. The 1.8GB monthly plan now costs ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan, which was priced at ₦1,000. The 15GB plan has risen from ₦4,500 to ₦6,500, while the 20GB plan now costs ₦7,500, up from ₦5,500. Additionally, SMS rates across all networks have increased from ₦4 to ₦6.
In January, the NCC approved a maximum 50% tariff adjustment for telecom operators, citing increased operational costs. However, the commission denied operators’ initial request for a 100% hike. The decision was made under the authority of Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which grants the NCC power to regulate and approve telecom tariffs.
Despite this, NATCOMS has threatened legal action against the NCC, while the NLC has warned of industrial action if the tariff hike is not reviewed downward. In response, the federal government set up a committee to review the situation before a final decision is reached.
However, as telecom companies proceed with the price adjustments, the NLC has issued a March 1 ultimatum, warning of a complete shutdown of telecom operations if the hike is not reversed.