Telecoms subscribers threaten to sue NCC over ‘unacceptable’ 50% tariff hike

Telecommunication subscribers under the aegis of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has kicked against the 50 per cent tariff hike approved by the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

This is even as the association threatened to sue NCC over the decision noting that it was not carried along before the decision was reached.

According to Deolu Ogunbanjo, president of NATCOMS while appearing on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics, the decision is a bit shocking.

“It is not it at all. It is so much for subscribers to bear. Already, we are grappling with a lot of things that are surrounding the business climate here – fuel cost, electricity cost, and all that – you are now looking at telcos asking for 100% and NCC now granting them 50%. It is a no-no,” Ogunbanjo said.

“We are definitely not going to accept this,” the NATCOMS chief insisted.

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“There are so many windows open to them,” Ogunbanjo said referencing options like a five to 10% increment in tariff, and “initial public offerings” among others.

“We would want to call on them to bring it to our demanded five to 10% increase.”

He threatened that NATCOMS would take the telecoms operators to court and claimed that during the last meeting of stakeholders, no agreement was reached on tariff increment.

“To be quite honest, it is a bit shocking,” the NATCOMS president added.

By: Babajide Okeowo

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