The Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, is currently in discussions with representatives of major telecommunications companies regarding proposed increases in telecom service tariffs. The meeting, which began earlier today, includes stakeholders from top telecom operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile.
Key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), are also present at the high-level meeting. Discussions are centered on the operators’ push for tariff adjustments to align with prevailing economic challenges.
Telecom operators have argued that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira have significantly increased their operational costs, making a tariff hike unavoidable. The companies claim these economic pressures threaten their ability to sustain quality services without government intervention.
Despite these concerns, the government has maintained that telecom operators should explore existing regulatory frameworks. The NCC has pointed out that the current 2013 tariff price floor remains in effect and provides room for operators to adapt without passing excessive costs onto consumers.
Industry experts believe this meeting is critical for balancing the economic realities of telecom operators with the government’s efforts to shield citizens from inflationary pressures. Any approved tariff adjustments are expected to include measures that ensure minimal impact on low-income users.
