The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a marginal 10% tariff increase for telecommunications companies to address rising operational costs.
Speaking to Pathway News, NATCOMS National President, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, emphasized the need for this increase to help telecom companies manage the financial strain they are currently facing. He urged the government and the NCC to collaborate on finding a sustainable solution that balances the needs of telecom operators and their subscribers.
Ogunbanjo noted that experts have suggested this 10% increase as a viable means to improve services, stating, “Once NCC approves the marginal increase, telecom companies must use it to enhance service quality for their customers.”
He also acknowledged that telecom operators had proposed load shedding—limiting services to certain areas at specific times—as an alternative to price hikes. However, Ogunbanjo rejected this option, warning that load shedding would negatively impact key sectors of the economy, such as banking, education, healthcare, and businesses that depend on telecom services.
“Load shedding would disrupt critical services and affect businesses that rely on virtual platforms. If telecom services are rationed, it will harm our economy,” Ogunbanjo said.
He pointed out that the industry has not raised service charges in over a decade despite rising operational costs due to factors like fuel prices. Ogunbanjo highlighted that during a recent workshop, economist Bismarck Rewane described the telecom industry as being in a “state of crisis,” stressing the urgency for action.
With industry experts sounding alarms, Ogunbanjo called for immediate solutions to safeguard the telecom sector and ensure reliable services for consumers.
