50% Tariff Hike: Nigerians May Spend ₦6.74 Trillion On Calls
President of the consumer group, Sina Bilesanmi told The PUNCH that the regulators including the NCC, and the minister were part of a virtual meeting in the morning where the decision for tariff hike was made.
Bilesanmi stated that the new tariff is to be implemented in February and warned that service providers must enhance their infrastructure and service quality within two weeks of the rollout.
“If we don’t see tangible improvements, we will take legal action against the telcos, the NCC, and the Federal Government,” he said.
The association’s support for the adjustment was driven by several factors, including the need to prevent the telecom sector from collapsing and to foster economic growth.
However, Bilesanmi made it clear that their acceptance is contingent on improved service delivery. “We urge our members to accept the tariff adjustment, but only if it results in better service. Otherwise, we will hold the authorities accountable,” he added.
Acknowledging the pressure in making the decision, Bilesanmi noted that stakeholders argued that rejecting the hike could lead to a shutdown of services. “I don’t want to be seen as an enemy of the economy,” he stated.
As February approaches, the association said it will closely monitor developments and remains committed to protecting consumer interests through all available legal means if service quality falls short of expectations.
