• Labour, northern coalition kick
From Fred Ezeh, Adanna Nnamani and Charity Nwakaudu Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has stated its commitment to effective monitoring of the impact of the new telecommunications tariff adjustment to ensure compliance with established regulatory standards.
Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, director, Corporate Affairs of FCCPC, said the commission was working with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to address concerns raised by consumers during the transition period and beyond.
He urged telecom operators to prioritise visible and measurable improvements in network reliability, speed, accessibility, and customer service as part of any tariff adjustment, saying that consumers’ interest is paramount.
According to him, it is crucial that tariff adjustments directly translate into demonstrable and tangible service enhancements for consumers.
He commended the NCC for adopting a deliberate and measured approach by rationalising the tariff adjustment and linking it to commensurate improvements in service quality.
”The NCC’s approval of a 50 per cent adjustment, which is lower than the over 100 per cent increase initially proposed by operators, demonstrates a thoughtful effort to balance industry sustainability with consumer protection.
”We are also pleased with the NCC’s directive to operators to ensure that, henceforth, tariffs are clear, straightforward, and free of hidden charges or complexities.
”Operators are now required to disclose all key details upfront, including the cost, validity period, and the specific inclusions of a plan.
”Consumers can also expect a mandatory disclosure table from their service providers, enabling them to make informed decisions without worrying about unexpected charges or surprises,” he said.
Ijagwu said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the FCCPC and NCC would provide a unified framework to oversee the implementation of the tariff adjustment in a manner that met the needs of consumers.
He encouraged consumers to report any unfair practices or concerns through the commission’s official channels to ensure effective resolution.
Meanwhile,
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the 50 per cent increase in telecommunication tariffs.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, conveyed the condemnation on Wednesday in Abuja in a statement titled,” 50 per cent Telecom Tariff Hike: Another Burden Too Harsh.”
According Ajaero, the NLC expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the Federal Government’s recent approval, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), of a 50 per cent increase in telecommunication tariffs.
“This decision, coming at a time when Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.
“Telecommunication services are essential for daily communication, work, and access to information.Yet, an average Nigerian worker already spends approximately ten per cent of their wages on telecom charges,” he said.
According to him, for a worker earning the current minimum wage of N70,000, this means an increase from N7,000 to a staggering N10,500 per month or 15 per cent of his salary; a cost that is unsustainable.
“This hike exemplifies the government’s apparent ease in prioritising corporate profits over citizens’ welfare,” Ajaero said.
He said that it was shocking that the government approved the 50 per cent tariff increase for telecom companies within a month.
“It took nearly a year to approve the recent minimum wage for workers, despite the rising cost of living and inflation eroding purchasing power.
“This glaring disparity underscores a troubling reality: the government appears more aligned with the interests of wealthy corporations than with the needs of the workers and citizens it is meant to serve.
“We must ask when will the government stand for the people it swore to protect?
“When will the National Assembly rise to its responsibility and hold the executive accountable for policies that blatantly undermine the welfare of the majority?”
He urged the NCC and the National Assembly to stop the implementation of the tariff hike to allow for a reasonable conversation around it.
He said if the dialogue agreed on the need for the hike, a more humane increase could be sought, but not by 50 per cent.
He, therefore, called on all Nigerian workers and masses to reject the tariff hike.
He urged citizens to prepare for collective action, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services, to compel the reversal of the punitive increase.
“This is for our dignity, our rights, and our survival as a people.
“The NLC remains resolute in defending the interests of Nigerian workers and the masses.
“We will not allow the people to bear the brunt of policies that further entrench poverty and inequality.
“Together, we will do our best to resist this injustice and demand that government prioritises the interests of its citizens over corporate interests,”he said.
Similarly, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) also rejected the tariff hike.
The group, in a statement by Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, national coordinator, stated that the increase is exploitative given that it is coming at a time Nigerians are reeling in immense economic hardship.
“The CNG totally and unequivocally rejects the recent astronomical 50 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs in the country as sanctioned by the NCC.
“The CNG avers that this decision coming at a time Nigerians are reeling in immense economic hardship is nothing short of an assault on the dignity and livelihoods of the people that have been economically pauperised.
“We are appalled by the insensitivity and lack of foresight demonstrated by the NCC and the Federal Ministry of Communications in approving such an exorbitant tariff hike.
“The CNG observes that at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to make ends meet due to hyper-inflation, rising unemployment, and the pervasive effects of economic mismanagement, this decision is utterly indefensible.
“it is unjustifiable for the NCC to cite operational cost increases and industry sustainability as reasons for the increase devoid of considering the current economic realities bequeathed to ordinary Nigerians.”
The group argued that the assertion that the decision followed “extensive consultations” with stakeholders is complete misrepresentation of reality as certainly the millions of struggling telecom consumers were not part of the consultation.
The CNG opined that in the modern age telecommunication services are not a luxury but are a necessity for survival and economic participation in the global digital world.
“By approving this hike, we contend, the NCC has jeopardized access to communication, education, healthcare, and commerce for the average Nigerian and further expanded the frontiers of the digital divide in the country.”
The CNG, therefore, called for immediate suspension of the 50 percent hike in the tariffs and “recommend instead a more reasonable adjustment of a maximum of 10 percent, which balances industry sustainability with the current economic realities in Nigeria.
“We also demand that the NCC engage in genuine, inclusive consultations with consumer advocacy groups, civil society organizations, and other grassroots stakeholders before implementing any tariff adjustments.”