The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has charged Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country to ensure that the 50% increase in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) must be reflected in better services for telecom subscribers in the country.
It specifically maintained that the telecom operators should ensure visible and measurable improvements in network reliability, speed, accessibility, and customer services.
The commission, in a statement signed by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, described the 50% adjustment in telecommunications tariffs by the NCC as a welcome development given the present economic realities in the country, stressing that good quality of services for consumers is not negotiable.
While acknowledging the economic pressures faced by telecom operators, including increasing operational costs, the commission unequivocally stated that consumer interests remained paramount and must not be compromised by the telcos in their operations.
The statement partly reads: ”The FCCPC acknowledges the intense pressure faced by the NCC over the years to approve tariff increases due to the rising operational costs experienced by telecom operators, which became more pronounced in recent times. We commend the NCC for adopting a deliberate and measured approach by rationalising the tariff adjustment and linking it to commensurate improvements in service quality while implementing measures to mitigate the impact on consumers.
“The NCC’s approval of a 50% adjustment, which is lower than the over 100% increase initially proposed by operators, demonstrates a thoughtful effort to balance industry sustainability with consumer protection”, the commission added.
The FCCPC further clarified that NCC’s directive to operators to ensure that, henceforth, tariffs are clear, straightforward, and free of hidden charges or complexities was quite commendable, noting that the operators are now required to disclose all key details upfront, including the cost, validity period, and the specific inclusions of a plan adding that consumers can also expect a mandatory disclosure table from their service providers, enabling them to make informed decisions without worrying about unexpected charges or surprises.
It recalled that the consumers had consistently expressed the desire for measurable improvements in the quality of service before any tariff increases are implemented while issues such as network congestion, dropped calls, inconsistent internet speeds, unusual data depletion, and poor customer service have remained prevalent concerns.
The FCCPC, therefore, maintained that it has become crucial that tariff adjustments directly translated into demonstrable and tangible service enhancements for consumers.
It further explained that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between the FCCPC and NCC highlighted the two commissions’ shared commitment to ensuring robust consumer protection, fair competition, and the eradication of exploitative practices in the telecommunications sector.
According to the commission, the MoU reinforces the principle that any regulatory or pricing adjustment must balance the sustainability of the industry with the interests of consumers.
The FCCPC stated: “The MoU between the FCCPC and NCC provides a unified framework to oversee the implementation of this tariff adjustment in a manner that meets the needs of consumers. The partnership ensures that the increase does not become a justification for exploitative practices but rather an opportunity to foster fairness, transparency, and accountability in the telecommunications sector’
It added that as Nigeria continues to embrace rapid technological advancements and increasing reliance on digital connectivity, it remained imperative that the benefits of a thriving telecommunications ecosystem extend to all stakeholders, particularly consumers.
The FCCPC assured the public that it shall, together with the NCC, continue to pursue measures that uphold these objectives by closely monitoring the impact of these tariff adjustments to ensure compliance with established regulatory standards while reminding the MNOs that it will be actively working with NCC to address concerns that may be raised by consumers during this transition period and beyond.
As a way of ensuring this, it encouraged subscribers to report any unfair practice by the telcos or other concerns through its official channels to ensure effective resolution of their complaints.
