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Telecom tariff hike: Protest looms as students demand reversal within 72 hrs

 

.As NATCOMS drags NCC to court over 50% increase on tariff, demands additional 10% hike

..Nigerians to shun voice calls in preference to chatting

 

By Cosmas Chukwu

 

The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a pan-African students movement, has given an ultimatum of 72-hour to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecom companies to reverse recent 50 per cent hike in tariff.

 

 

The President of PSM, Comrade Bestman Okereafor, called for the review and reversal in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

 

 

 

Okereafor noted that the 50 per cent increment at this time is “unjustifiable, untimely, and insensitive; hence the total rejection of this anti-masses increment.”

 

 

According to him, PSM is calling on NCC and telecommunications companies to review its stance as a matter of urgency.

 

 

He said, “The attention of PSM has been drawn to NCC’s approval of Telecom operators 50 per cent tariff increment.

 

 

“It will be recalled that telecom operators had previously demanded to adjust their  tariff rate; a request which many Nigerians especially Nigerian students frowned at.

 

 

“Information at our disposal shows that NCC approved the telecom companies request in response to rising operational costs, at the detriment of Nigerians and the obvious economic realities facing the country.

 

 

“However, this development, which allows for a maximum of 50 per cent adjustment to current tariffs, was announced in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, on Monday, Jan. 20.”

 

 

The PSM boss warned that the entire students’ bodies would be protesting this abnormal and  inconsiderate 50 per cent increment in tariff if not reviewed in the next 72 hours.

 

.as NATCOMS to sue NCC over 50% telecom rates hike, expects 10% rise

 

 

The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has described the approval of 50 percent increase in telecommunications services rates by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as unacceptable.

 

It further threatened to sue the NCC, emphasising that it had already suggested a 5 percent to 10 percent marginal increase in tariff.

 

President of NATCOMS, Deolu Ogunbanjo, while reacting to the development, noted that the commission did not carry subscribers along in their decision.

 

Ogunbanjo pinpointed that the hike will affect individuals and businesses as so many sectors depend on telecom services to survive.

 

“This will affect everyone from the biggest industry to the smallest company, such as the Point of Service (POS) operators

 

“We now depend on telecoms for our meetings, for the banks, everybody depends on it even the education sector, yes, a lot of things depend on it,” he said.

 

“So, that is why we painfully agreed that, look, a moderate or marginal five per cent to 10 percent increase will be fine.

 

“You know, we do not mind an increase if it is to salvage the industry that is helping us, that means so much to us and that is also contributing double-digit to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP).

 

“So, we appreciate that. It’s painful, but we agreed. We said, okay, we will not mind if it is just a five percent to 10 percent increase,” the president explained.

 

Ogunbanjo urged telecommunications companies to explore the Nigerian exchange options to raise more funds for financing.

 

“The industry operators can opt for an Initial Public Offer (IPO) for Nigerians to buy shares in their companies as a way of raising funds.

 

“However, a situation where a whole 50 percent is granted for tariff hike is not cheap and it is a no! no! from us subscribers.

 

“I mean, for what we are already going through, no for us, we will challenge this in court,” Ogunbanjo insisted.

 

 

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