Telecoms subscribers kick as minister defends tariff hike

Telecoms subscribers, under the aegis of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS-Nigeria) have faulted the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, for saying telecoms tariff hike threshold should be between 30 and 60 per cent.

ATCIS claimed the minister’s statement was contrary to the agreements reached between the Consumer Bureau Department of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and stakeholders at a meeting held on January 9, 2025, at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

ATCIS, in a statement signed by the National Chairman, Sina Bilesanmi, and made available to newsmen, yesterday, said the body was established to advance the rights of telephone, cable TV and Internet subscribers in Nigeria. He stressed that the minister has no power to fix prices in a liberalised market.

Bilesanmi said tariff hike was not one of the issues agreed on with the regulator in Abuja, wondering why the minister was interested in hiking tariffs to the detriment of struggling Nigerians still reeling under the impact of economic reforms.

He said what was agreed on at the January 9 Abuja meeting was that there would be no telecoms tariff hike for now until all the stakeholders, particularly the subscribers, were sufficiently enlightened and sensitised.

Tijani had said in an interview that though the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) wanted 100 per cent increase, the government knew such increase would be harmful to the people.

On the threshold of the expected hike, he said: “I think it should not be more than anywhere between 30 to 60 per cent. Bilesanmi claimed it was not the duty of the minister to speak for the telecoms sector on pricing, saying it was a delicate area in which the NCC should employ consultants to do data-based empirical cost analysis.

According to him, telcos should respect subscribers and their advocacy bodies, stressing that there should be more meetings among operators, regulator and advocacy bodies.

He said: “The MNOs, through their representatives (ATCON and ALTON), are supposed to organise an enlightenment/sensitisation programme to address the issues. The MNOs were supposed to discuss the percentage increment with the subscribers’ representatives after which it will be taken to the subscribers for discussion.”

At the end of the meetings, we were expected to communicate an equilibrium price (a fair price agreeable to all) to the NCC for final approval,” he said. According to Bilesanmi, any tariff hike will do more harm than good to the subscribers at a time they are struggling to cope.

MEANWHILE, Tijani has said the ministry is intervening in the ongoing discussions about telecom tariff increase to ensure that the interests of Nigerians are protected.

Tijani stated this while speaking during another interview on Arise TV at the weekend. Responding to a question on why the ministry is dabbling into a regulatory issue that should be left to be handled by the Nigerian Communications Commission, Tijani said the ministry supervises the NCC and its job is to cater to the people.

“We’re stepping in to support ordinary Nigerians while ensuring businesses remain viable.