The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has assured Nigerians that their interest will be protected amid the controversial telecoms tariff increase.
Following pressure from the telecommunications companies for a 100 per cent tariff increase, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently approved a 50 per cent hike.
The NCC said the approval, which is half of what the telcos demanded, is in recognition of the financial pressures faced by Nigerian households and businesses.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said that the Commission is out to protect the interest of Nigerians which is why it insisted that the tariff increase which he acknowledged has become necessary, does not exceed 50 per cent.
“Recently, you will notice that we signed an MoU with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) that regulates that industry. Our own is to ensure that there are fair prices, there is efficiency and all those things,” Bello said.
“One of the terms of that MoU is the fact that it provides efficiency services to Nigerians and our take in this is that we want to ensure that even if they increase their prices, how are consumers compensated when they are injured? How do they get the necessary efficiency in terms of receiving and dialing calls and so on?
“These are some of the things we are going to be monitoring because there is provision under the MoU that we are going to monitor that those things are provided. Where the consumer is dissatisfied, they have the responsibility to alert us, and we will take it up on their behalf.”
The proposed telecom tariff increase has raised dust among labour unions and civil society organisations. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had fixed a protest on Tuesday but suspended the action following a talk with representatives of the Federal Government.
After extensive deliberation, both the NLC and the FG agreed to set up a 10-man committee comprising five members from both parties to review and submit its report within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has threatened to down tools if the Federal Government does not rescind its recent approval for the 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariff.
TUC condemned the proposed tariff hike, saying that it is not only ill-timed but also a deliberate act of economic oppression against Nigerians.
