NCC orders community service suppliers to reverse 10% tariff hike

The Nigerian Communications (NCC) has ordered the reversal of the implementation of the newly accredited 10% hike in tariff for voice and information providers.

This was contained in an announcement issued by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka on Wednesday in Abuja.

In line with the assertion, the consideration for 10 per cent approval for tariff changes for various voice and information packages was according to the mandates of the Fee as offered by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and different extant Rules and Pointers, as this was inside the provisions of present value ground and value cap as decided for the trade.

It stated: “The choice was additionally taken after a important and lifelike overview and evaluation of the operational surroundings and the present enterprise local weather in Nigeria, because it impacts all sectors of the financial system.

“Moreover, regardless that the tariff adjustment was proposed and provisionally accredited by the Administration, pending the ultimate approval of the Board of the Fee, in the long run it didn’t have the approval of the Board of the Fee. Consequently, it’s reversed.

“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economic system, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has maintained that his precedence is to guard the residents and guarantee justice to all stakeholders concerned. As such, something that may carry extra hardship at this important time is not going to be accepted.

“This was additionally why he obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the suspension of the proposed 5 per cent excise obligation, to be able to preserve a conducive enabling surroundings for the telecom operators. A lot as there is a rise in the price of manufacturing, the availability of telecom providers remains to be very worthwhile and it’s needed that the subscribers should not subjected to a hike in expenses.

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