The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to suspend the impending hike in telecommunications tariffs until service delivery improves. This comes after MTN Nigeria implemented a 50% price increase on its data bundles and SMS rates, sparking widespread criticism from subscribers.
The lawmakers’ position was made clear through a motion of urgent public importance moved by Representative Obuku Oforji. Oforji noted that the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, had disclosed plans for a tariff hike during a stakeholders’ meeting with mobile network operators in Abuja.
MTN’s price adjustment has seen significant increases across various data plans. The 15GB weekly data plan now costs N6,500, up from N2000, while the 20GB plan has risen to N7,500 from N5,500. SMS rates have also increased from N4 to N6 per message.
Subscribers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with many calling for a boycott of MTN. The sudden price hike has triggered concerns about the impact on low-income families and the overall economy.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has also been engaged in discussions with MTN over the price increase. However, the telecommunications giant has defended its decision, citing rising operational costs and the need to invest in network upgrades.
As the controversy unfolds, the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that telecommunications companies prioritize service delivery and affordability. The lawmakers’ intervention aims to protect the interests of Nigerian subscribers and promote transparency in the telecommunications sector.
Source: Vanguard
