Telecom tariff hike: Students give NCC, telecom companies 72-hr ultimatum to reverse tariff

A pan-African students movement, Progressive Students Movement (PSM), has given a 72-hour ultimatum to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecom companies to reverse the recent 50 per cent hike in tariff.

Handing down the ultimatum on Tuesday, PSM said that the 50 per cent increment in tariff at this time is “unjustifiable, untimely, and insensitive,” hence its total rejection of the new tariff, describing it as “anti-masses increment.”

PSM President, Bestman Okereafor, in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu called for the review and reversal of the increment.

Okereafor stressed that the student group wants NCC and telecommunications companies to as a matter of urgency, review their stance.

The statement reads in parts, “The attention of PSM has been drawn to NCC’s approval of Telecom operators 50 per cent tariff increment.

“It will be recalled that telecom operators had previously demanded to adjust their tariff rate; a request which many Nigerians especially Nigerian students frowned at.

“Information at our disposal shows that NCC approved the telecom companies request in response to rising operational costs, at the detriment of Nigerians and the obvious economic realities facing the country.

“However, this development, which allows for a maximum of 50 per cent adjustment to current tariffs, was announced in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, on Monday, Jan. 20.”

Okereafor however, warned that the entire students’ bodies would be protesting “this abnormal and inconsiderate 50 per cent increment in tariff if not reviewed in the next 72 hours.”