Group alleges telecom operators want to increase tariff

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), a nongovernmental telecom advocacy group, has alleged that operators are preparing to increase mobile service tariffs in Nigeria.

"It is callous and totally out-of-order in a country that believes in the rule-of-law," NATCOMS President Deolu Ogunbanjo said of the proposed hike at an emergency meeting of the group on Monday.

NATCOMS has noted with dismay and very great disappointment the threat by the operators to jack up tariffs under the auspices of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), a statement issued at the end of the meeting stated.

According to NATCOMS, ALTON threatened after its Nov. 13 meeting to unilaterally effect tariff increases and invoke direct sanctions on communities in which government agencies impose indiscriminate operating charges.

"If ALTON feels aggrieved about multiple taxation by the various tiers of government and other government agencies, they can take the particular government arm to court to seek redress," Ogunbanjo said. "Once judgment is delivered in ALTON's favor, and such an arm of government is duly served, the judgment execution and compliance will not be a problem, now that the whole nation is singing 'Rule of Law,'" he said.

ALTON had made a similar threat on May 4, which NATCOMS and other stakeholders resisted, Ogunbanjo recalled. He urged ALTON to rethink their plan to increase tariffs, as NATCOMS will continue to challenge such actions.