NATCOMS Urges NCC to Sanction Telcos for Tariff Hike Breach

The National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS) has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to sanction any telecom operator that has already implemented the recent tariff hike, citing a breach of the agreement.

The National President of NATCOMS, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, said in an interview on Wednesday that any operator enforcing the tariff increase was violating the agreement between the NCC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Following objections from the NLC, the Federal Government had established a 10-man committee to review the proposed tariff hike and submit its findings within two weeks before a final decision would be made on the new telecom tariff structure.

Ogunbanjo stated that the NCC had agreed to hold a stakeholders’ meeting within two weeks, involving the NLC, telecom subscribers, and operators, to discuss the proposed increase. However, he noted that the meeting had yet to take place, and the two-week period had not elapsed before some operators implemented the 50 per cent tariff hike.

“This is an affront, and defaulters should be sanctioned,” he said.

“I am sure you are aware that NATCOMS was prepared to challenge the 50 per cent tariff hike in court but decided to wait for the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting.

“This is the advice given to the subscribers’ association by its national general secretary, who is a lawyer.

“So why should the hike be implemented when the stakeholders’ meeting has yet to be held?

“The NCC should, as a matter of urgency, sanction the telcos for implementing an upward review of tariffs,” Ogunbanjo added.

Also Read: MTN Raises Data Prices as NCC 50% Hike Takes Effect

A check using the *312# code on the MTN network confirmed that the telco had revised its data prices. For instance, the 1.8GB monthly plan now costs ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at ₦1,000. The 15GB plan has increased to ₦6,500 from ₦4,500, while the 20GB plan now costs ₦7,500, up from ₦5,500.

Further checks revealed that all telecom networks had increased their SMS rates from ₦4.00 to ₦6.00.

The NCC had approved a maximum tariff increase of 50 per cent in January, stating that its decision though lower than the 100 per cent hike requested by operators was in response to rising operational costs. The approval was granted under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which empowers the Commission to regulate and approve telecom tariff rates.

However, NATCOMS has threatened legal action against the NCC, while the NLC has vowed to embark on industrial action if the proposed 50 per cent hike is not reviewed downwards.

In response, the Federal Government formed a 10-man committee to review the tariff hike within two weeks and report back before any final decision was made.

Despite this agreement, telecom operators have proceeded with the price increase, prompting the NLC to issue a deadline of 1 March for a total shutdown of telecom operations if the tariff hike is not reversed.