In accordance with its authority under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to control and authorize tariff rates and charges by telecom operators, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will authorize network operators’ requests for tariff adjustments in response to current market conditions.
Although it is less than the over 100% that some network operators have demanded, the adjustment, which is limited to no more than 50% of current tariffs, was made with consideration for ongoing industry reforms that will have a positive impact on sustainability.
Since 2013, tariff rates have stayed the same in spite of telecom operators’ rising operating costs. In order to close the large discrepancy between operating costs and current tariffs without sacrificing service delivery to customers, the adjustment was approved.
The NCC claims that these changes will help operators continue to make investments in innovation and infrastructure, which will ultimately benefit customers by improving connectivity and services like higher coverage, better network quality, and improved customer service.
After thorough discussions with important stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, this decision was made in recognition of the public’s concerns.
Finding a balance between safeguarding telecom customers and maintaining the industry’s viability—including the thousands of local suppliers and vendors who are an essential component of the telecommunications ecosystem—has been a top priority for the NCC.
The NCC continues to have a great deal of empathy for the effects of tariff adjustments and acknowledges the financial strains that Nigerian households and businesses are under. In light of this, the Commission has ordered operators to make these changes in a way that is fair to customers and transparent. Operators must also show quantifiable improvements in service delivery while educating and informing the public about the new rates.
The NCC also restates its commitment to developing a robust, creative, and inclusive telecommunications industry. In addition to safeguarding consumers, the Commission’s initiatives aim to support local suppliers and vendors, guarantee the industry’s long-term viability, and foster the expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy as a whole.
In its capacity as a regulator, the NCC will keep interacting with interested parties in order to establish a telecommunications environment that benefits all parties—consumers, operators, and the ecosystem that powers connectivity throughout the country.
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