Senate To Intervene In Plans To Increase Cost Of Data

*As anger trails directive to hike tariff
Nigerians have reacted angrily to the recent directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to telecom operators to increase the tariff for data services, with several of them calling on the National Assembly to intervene in the matter.

In reaction to the NCC directive, MTN has started sending out bulk messages to its subscribers alerting them of the planned increase. The text message read: “Dear customer, please be informed that from 1st Dec, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC to operators. Thank you.”

Sources indicate that the new rate could see Nigerians paying as much as
N1000 for 500 megabytes instead of the 1 gigabyte, 1.5 gigabytes or 2 gigabytes they currently get, depending on the network.

There could be charges for other telecom services in the country in order to meet the reported proposition by Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank Governor, for a tax from mobile phone users in the country as part of efforts to address the economic recession.

Many subscribers who reacted to the issue via their twitter handles wondered why NCC would seek to bring more hardship on Nigerians who are battling to survive the economic recession. They called on Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to stop the draconian directive by NCC.

The Senate President in a short message on his handle, promised that the Senate would intervene.

Senator Shehu Sani was among those who condemned the planned increase.

“At a time telecom companies are still making billions in profits despite the recession, increasing tariff on data services is simply about extorting more from the people for data after paying more for electricity,” Senator Sani wrote.

Henry Ezeanya wrote: “can you people kindly look into the NCC's hike in data charges. Market force bringing prices down, but NCC wants it up.”

Seyi Benz: “they want to gag us by increasing tariff so we can't come online n harangue them on bad governance. It's a ploy.”

Judith Hanrankis: “sir, am a student that still manage to subscribe with 1500 for my assignments, pls I can’t afford this NCC new rate,do something”.

David Olar tweeted: “Pls #SaveOurSoul Call Tariffs should be cheaper, NCC can not be acting a script of incompetence.”

Olumide: “still wondering how people in authority in Nigeria think, other countries: almost free wifi, Nigerian government - data the the rich”.

Umar. S: “Pls sir, don’t let them hike it. Nigerians are already feeling the heat.”

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Comments

  1. gskia... what NCC are trying to do is nothing but purely extortion.

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  2. This is really very bad. I was among those complaining too. How can this administration keep saying they know our sufferings, they feel our pains and yet keep worsening our situations. If they continue doing this way, are they not indirectly encouraging crime? We should be considering reduction no increment.

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  3. Billions of naira d networ operators are making momthly is not enough de still want ways to steal money mtn fine was stolen senate probe d ccc body now

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  4. Nice one Nigeria Senator to intervene in the so called MTN plan tariff.

    #GodSaveUsAll

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  5. Make dem nor try am OooooO ...

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  6. They better intervene....Dis NCC people sef....

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  7. They should oo. After all their promos. What kinda heartbreak is this?

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  8. We are even pay more now on data, we expect network service providers, NCC should ring this on their hears.

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  9. This is madness from NCC, what is their problem?

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  10. Have they forgotten there is recession, OokkkK dats there plan to stop people from reading blogs abi...#DemmaOloshist

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  11. Olu, are you there?
    This government of Apc actually don't understand what governance is all about. People that voted you in can also revoke against you. Nonsense.

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  12. This is not fair,for one to be a first class student you need a lot of information from the Internet.is it everything we would pay tax for na wa o

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  13. better oooooooooooooo

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  14. Pls they should not increase it o

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  15. They should make sure they intervene oh

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  16. This government is very daft walahi! Just tired of all Ds trash..haba! Life has become so hard as in hard

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  17. This government is daft as in very daft..how do U tax stressed citizens..life has become so hard..

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