There is no plan by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to hike telecom tariff next month, it was learnt on Sunday.
According to the commission, the procedures for hike in tariff are more rigorous, data-driven and evidence-based. It dismissed as mere speculations that upward review of tariff was imminent.
A source within the Commission linked the unsubstantiated claims to some telecom operators, saying that those behind such speculations have being economical with the truth.
The NCC source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the commission had management board to approve such review.
The source said: “Let us face the facts… as at today, the NCC doesn’t have a management board in place to consider review of tariff. Mr. President has not appointed management board for NCC.
‘Two, it’s only after Board approval that the NCC will engage consultants to carry out a study on price review. After the consultants are through, then stakeholders’ engagement will take place to consider economic implications and imperatives that call for review.
It is a figment of the imagination of some people. The issues around tariff review is data-driven and evidence-based.
“The telecom operators announcing and crying that it is necessary to increase tariff plans have not been telling the truth. They have been saying that the costs of everything, including diesel have gone up. And they wanted to take advantage.
The last time there was a review was 2013. And it was holistic. However, it is important to state that the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), based on the last review, still have windows to increase tariffs on their own.
‘The price templates they are operating on since 2013 have not been exhausted so why can’t they go ahead on their own and at individual levels to increase tariffs.”
“The review maintained that the lowest any MNOs can charge subscribers for airtime per minute was N6.40 kobo, while the highest is 50 naira per minute. But as at today, some are charging 18 naira, some 15 naira per minutes and below.
