One wonders what sort of regulation this is! As people have note, NCC is supposed to act in the interest of citizens and ensure healthy competition among telecom operators, not kill competition
Outsiders are interested in supporting tech development and entrepreneurship in the country while the government is coming up with antagonistic policies
The internet somehow keeps the youth engaged. NCC should carry out an intelligent regulatory function, not this type that calls the competence of the body to question
It is no longer news that come December 1 this year, there is going to be a steep increase in data tariff by the big mobile telecommunication networks in Nigeria.
From news making the rounds on the media, the regulatory body for telecom operations in Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), at the behest of the Federal Government has mandated telecom service providers to increase data tariff and adopt a uniform price structure.
One wonders what sort of regulation this is! As people have note, NCC is supposed to act in the interest of citizens and ensure healthy competition among telecom operators, not kill competition.
The increase, if eventually implemented, will be mostly felt by youths and the academia although other businesses like banks and IT companies will be affected as well. This might trigger increases in the prices of some goods and services. Some months back, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO visited Nigeria. This was seen as a recognition of the burgeoning network of developers in the country. Outsiders are interested in supporting tech development and entrepreneurship in the country while the government is coming up with antagonistic policies.
Yes, Nigeria is the largest internet using nation in Africa. Many youths survive on the internet doing legitimate things. The cashless economy being promoted is internet-driven. Many businesses and organisations would immediately collapse without internet. And the government sees an opportunity to rake in extra revenues through this avenue. But the government should be aware that the purchasing power of Nigerians has been grossly eroded. Hyper-inflation, especially in the absence of increase in emoluments of workers and other cushioning mechanisms, lack of conducive business climate for artisans especially due to ever-erratic electricity supply and increase in fuel price, and a general sense of uncertainty and helplessness are pummelling families and individuals. A state government resorted to paying workers, half salary while some Federal Government workers have been receiving fractions of their monthly wages due to shortfalls from the centre. When the price of PMS was increased, Nigerians were promised that cushioning effects would be put in place but this is yet to be seen till date. The proposed increase is a joke taken too far.
The internet somehow keeps the youth engaged. NCC should carry out an intelligent regulatory function, not this type that calls the competence of the body to question. The Federal Government should desist from unnecessary meddlesomeness with its agencies and parastatals. The country is still in the quagmire created by FG's interference with the functions of the Central Bank.
Government should look elsewhere to generate additional revenue instead of further impoverishing hapless citizens and launching a direct attack on youths.
http://punchng.com/gsm-subscribers-pay-data-dec-1/
http://www.nairaland.com/3486028/mtn-announces-tariff-increase-data
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