By JESSICA DOGO

The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has rejected the alleged Telecoms tariff hike and called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to nullify its approval.

NATCOMS made this known in a communiqu? issued after its National Exco held an emergency meeting on the planned tariff hike of Telecommunication Services in the Country.

The communiqu? signed by its National President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo and the National Secretary Bayo Omotubora, also advised operators to embrace other options of generating funds for their operations.

The duo explained that the new increment would make telecommunication Services more expensive by 40 per cent and attract 12.5 per cent tax rate, pricing two thirds of Telecoms Services Subscribers out of its market.

?Under the new tariffs regime, a voice call will rise from N11.00 to N15.40 per minute, short message services will jump from N4.00 to N5.60.

?One GB data bundle will move from N1,000 to N1,400. This represents additional digital costs consumers will have to square up with at the beginning of a new year among other harsh economic realities of Nigeria of today.

?This is a complete negation of the statutory duty of NCC to protect the interest of Telecom Services Consumers.

?We are aware of the arguments of the Telecoms Operators that there has not been any tariff increment in a decade, multiple levies slammed on them by different tiers of Government and the dollarization costs of their equipment.

?But truth be told, there are many other avenues through which the operators can generate funds to meet their rising operational costs without putting unbearable burden on their consumers.?

NATCOMS suggested the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market, for instance, as a veritable avenue for the operators to raise funds to meet their costs requirements.

?This Association considers the decision of the NCC as very insensitive and not in the interest of Telecoms Services Consumers.

?The unrelenting rise in prices of Goods and Services in the country has made life extremely difficult for the generality of citizens who are the consumers of telecom services.

?The new increment is therefore one additional burden too many.?

NATCOMS noted that telecoms services were taxable services under the Value Added Tax Act amended in 2019, by the Finance Act, to raise the tax rate from 5 per cent to 7.5 Per cent.

?That increment brought about untold hardship to our members, many of whom have been forced to cut back on their telecommunication requirements.?

The association urged the NCC to reconsider its decision in the interest of the generality of citizens.

The News Agency (NAN) reports that the NCC, when contacted for its reaction, said all issues around the tariff hike should be ignored.

The Commission also said that it would provide an official statement to the public to clarify all speculations about Telecoms tariff hike. (NAN)

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