Nigerian govt confirms call, data tariff hike, rules out 100% increase
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, on Wednesday told Nigerians to brace up for an increase in telecommunications tariffs.
He, however, assured disclosed that the Federal Government would not approve the 100 percent increase tariff hike the telecom operators are pushing for.
TIjani stated this at the end of a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Abuja.
He said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would approve the new tariffs and make it public soon.
The minister said: “You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs. They are requesting a 100 percent tariff increase.
“But it will not be by 100 percent. We are still looking at that study, and NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.
“We want to strike the balance as a government to protect our people but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly.
“We need to ensure that as a sector, we get our acts together and ensure that from the regulation side, we put the right regulations in place that can ensure the growth of this sector.”
He also noted that the federal government would no longer leave infrastructural investments in the sector to private companies alone.
“As a country, over time, we have left this investment in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term.
“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. I think what the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity.
“You want to have access to very good quality service.
“A part of it that the consumers may not be aware of is the investment that needs to go into the infrastructure that is used to deliver these services,” Tijani stated.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the meeting with stakeholders was about the sustainability of the industry.
“We have looked at all of these factors, and that is why, like the minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve a 100 percent tariff increase.
“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There is still some stakeholder engagement that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two,” Maida said.
He said the NCC had put a number of tools and instruments into place by revising its quality of service regulations for compliance service quality.
Nigerian govt confirms call, data tariff hike, rules out 100% increase
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, on Wednesday told Nigerians to brace up for an increase in telecommunications tariffs.
He, however, assured disclosed that the Federal Government would not approve the 100 percent increase tariff hike the telecom operators are pushing for.
TIjani stated this at the end of a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Abuja.
He said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would approve the new tariffs and make it public soon.
The minister said: “You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs. They are requesting a 100 percent tariff increase.
“But it will not be by 100 percent. We are still looking at that study, and NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.
“We want to strike the balance as a government to protect our people but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly.
“We need to ensure that as a sector, we get our acts together and ensure that from the regulation side, we put the right regulations in place that can ensure the growth of this sector.”
He also noted that the federal government would no longer leave infrastructural investments in the sector to private companies alone.
“As a country, over time, we have left this investment in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term.
“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. I think what the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity.
“You want to have access to very good quality service.
“A part of it that the consumers may not be aware of is the investment that needs to go into the infrastructure that is used to deliver these services,” Tijani stated.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the meeting with stakeholders was about the sustainability of the industry.
“We have looked at all of these factors, and that is why, like the minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve a 100 percent tariff increase.
“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There is still some stakeholder engagement that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two,” Maida said.
He said the NCC had put a number of tools and instruments into place by revising its quality of service regulations for compliance service quality.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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