The National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission to sanction telecom operators for a breach of agreement.

NATCOMS president Deolu Ogunbanjo said on Wednesday that any telecom operator implementing the tariff hike was breaching the agreement by the NCC and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Following the NLC’s objections to the tariff hike, the federal government established a 10-man committee to deliberate on the proposal and report to it in two weeks before any final decision on the new tariff structure.

Mr Ogunbanjo said the NCC agreed to hold a stakeholders’ meeting with the NLC,  subscribers, and telecom operators within two weeks to discuss the issue of tariff hike.

He said the meeting had not been held, and two weeks had not elapsed before the telcos started implementing the 50 per cent tariff hike.

According to him, this is an affront and defaulters should be sanctioned.

“I am sure you are aware that NATCOMS  was prepared to head to court to challenge the 50 per cent tariff hike but decided to wait for the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting.

“This is the advice that was given to the subscribers association by its national general secretary, who happens to be a lawyer. So why should the hike be implemented when the stakeholders’ meeting is yet to be held?

“The NCC should, as a matter of urgency, sanction the telcos for implementing an upward review of tariffs,’’ he said.

A check using the *312# code on the MTN network showed that the telco had revised its data prices. For the monthly plans, MTN 1.8GB now goes for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000; the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, a rise from N4,500. The 20GB monthly plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500.

Further checks show that all the networks had reviewed their text messaging price from N4 to N6.

NCC, the industry’s regulatory body, approved a maximum increment of 50 per cent tariff adjustments for operators in January. The commission said its approval, though less than the 100 per cent hike demanded by operators, was in response to prevailing operational costs.

It said its decision was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

However, NATCOMS threatened to sue the NCC, while the Nigeria Labour Congress pledged to start an industrial action if the 50 per cent proposed tariff hike was not reviewed downwards.

This prompted the federal government to constitute a 10-man committee to deliberate on the tariff hike within two weeks and report before making any final decision on the new telecom tariff structure.

Despite this agreement, telecom firms have proceeded with the increase, prompting the NLC to issue a March 1 deadline for a total shutdown of their operations if the tariff hike is not reversed.

(NAN)