Rights group demands tariff hike reversal
The Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation (Grassroot Centre) has condemned the recent decision of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a 50 per cent hike in telecoms’ tariffs and demanded an immediate reversal. The centre on Tuesday in Abuja in a statement by Mr Armsfree Ajanaku, its executive director, said this hike […]
The Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation (Grassroot Centre) has condemned the recent decision of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a 50 per cent hike in telecoms’ tariffs and demanded an immediate reversal.
The centre on Tuesday in Abuja in a statement by Mr Armsfree Ajanaku, its executive director, said this hike from the industry regulator was announced without due consideration of the current excruciating economic burdens Nigerians are facing.
“It is quite disheartening that the NCC succumbed to the pressure of the telecommunications companies, whose epileptic and unreliable services, have over the years, left Nigerians and their businesses in constant frustration.
“From dropped calls to internet downtime and glitches, Nigerians have continued to endure terrible services, while the regulatory body turns a blind eye,” he said.
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He said looking at the NCC’s argument justifying the tariff hike, the emphasis was on the notion that, “The tariff rates have remained static since 2013, despite the increasing cost of operation faced by telecom operators.”
Ajanaku, however, said any reasonable observer would have expected the focus of the NCC to be on the quality of service being provided by the telcos.
He said the point about the rising cost of operations driven by inflation, foreign exchange volatility, the increased cost of diesel and network maintenance were not caused by ordinary Nigerians.