By Ifeyinwa Ogwo :
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has approved a 50% increase in the tariff rates for airtime and data subscriptions for telecommunications operators. This adjustment aims to address the current market conditions affecting these operators.
This approval was announced by the NCC’s Public Relations Officer, Reuben Muoka. He stated that the increase aligns with Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA). The objective is to bridge the significant gap between operational costs and existing tariff rates while ensuring that service delivery to consumers remains uncompromised.
“This 50% increase is less than the 100% raise requested by the network operators. Tariff rates have not changed since 2013, despite the rising operational costs faced by telecom providers. This adjustment will help network operators continue to innovate and enhance services for consumers through improved offerings and better network coverage,” Muoka added.
The decision to implement this increase was made following extensive consultations with key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. The Commission has also directed that telecom operators implement these changes transparently and fairly, ensuring that consumers are educated about the new rates while demonstrating measurable improvements in service delivery.
