Tag: Telecoms sector

Wale Edun supports 50% telecoms tariff hike

Aminu Imam
Wale Edun on tariff hike

…Says inflation has increased Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has backed the 50% hike in telecom tariff, saying inflation should be reflected in the companies’ business operations. However, there have been tons of reactions from stakeholders since the increase was announced on Monday. While the telecoms firms say the increase ought to be higher than 50 per cent, labour unions and the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) believe the deal favours the companies and puts the masses at a disadvantage. Edun stated on…

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President Tinubu scraps 5% telecoms levy

Aminu Imam
Tinubu scraps levy

President Bola Tinubu has scrapped the controversial 5% excise duty on telecommunications services, a policy reversal aimed at reducing the financial burden on Nigerians and boosting growth in the country’s digital economy. Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, announced the decision during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. Maida said, “The 5% excise duty is no longer in effect. Initially, it was only suspended, but the President has now completely removed it. I was present when the issue was raised, and he firmly said: ‘No,…

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Tariff Hike: “Govt. backing telcos for revenue, neglects Nigerians” – NLC

Aminu Imam
NLC to FG

The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has said the Federal Government is prioritising revenue generation over the welfare of citizens by supporting the recent 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs. The tariff hike, announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Monday, will see MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile charge more for calls and messages. The move, the first in 11 years justified by the need for telcos to cover inflation and the high cost of operations of over 300 per cent, has sparked outrage among citizens, with the NLC particularly calling…

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Phone calls to cost ₦16.5/minute, data ₦431.25/1Gb, as NCC increases tariff by 50%

Aminu Imam
Phone calls tariff

Nigerians will now pay ₦16.5 per minute for calls and ₦431.25 to subscribe to 1 giga-byte (GB) of data, following a 50% tariff hike by the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) on Monday. Recall that Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, had hinted that telecom tariffs will go up by either 30 or 50 percent. His position came from a fallout of a meeting between him and operators who had proposed a 100% tariff increase. The latest telecom tariff hike approval comes 13 years after NCC announced price template…

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Telcos may suspend USSD services in 2 weeks over ₦250b bank debts

Aminu Imam
Telcos may suspend

Except there is any other intervention, indications emerged Monday that the telecoms operators (telcos) have concluded plans to suspend the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, (USSD), over the non-compliance of deposit money banks (DMBs) to the payment of the protracted N250 billion debt. The suspension of the USSD service is expected in two weeks due to the failure of the banks to comply with the December 23, 2024 joint directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which required them to make part payment of…

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‘Telcos seeking 100% tariff hike’ – MTN CEO, Toriola

Aminu Imam
MTN CEO, Toriola

MTN Nigeria has revealed that telecommunications companies are seeking a 100% tariff increase, but it remains uncertain whether the telecom regulator Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), will approve the proposal. The disclosure was made by the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, who made the disclosure during an interview yesterday, said the proposed tariff hike is necessary for the sustainability of the industry, which has been facing significant financial pressures due to rising operational costs. “We’ve put forward requests of approximately 100% tariff increases to regulators. I doubt they’re going…

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NCC debunks reports of 40% Telecom tariff hike

Aminu Imam
NCC logo

…Says its “fake news” The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has refuted recent reports alleging it approved a 40 percent increase in telecom tariffs, labeling the claims as false and misleading. Recall that there had earlier been reports on social media  that the Commission had approved the proposal for a 40% increase in tariffs for services rendered by telecommunications service providers beginning in January 2025. The reports claimed that this will translate into ₦15.40 per minute for telephone calls and ₦5.60 for Short Message Service (SMS). It added that data bundles,…

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MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile to raise prices in 2025 after NCC approval

Aminu Imam
Telecoms tariff

The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has approved a long-awaited telecom tariff hike, ending over a decade of lobbying by major operators like MTN Nigeria, Airtel, and 9Mobile.  New rates for calls, SMS, and internet bundles will take effect in January 2025, with tariffs expected to rise by up to 40%.   Under the revised structure, call charges will increase from ?11 to ?15.40 per minute, SMS costs will rise from ?4 to ?5.60, and a 1GB data bundle will cost at least ?1,400, up from ?1,000.  This marks the end of…

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FG plans 5% tax on Telecoms services, others

Aminu Imam
FG tax on Telecoms

The Federal Government has proposed a 5 percent excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, and betting activities as part of a new bill to overhaul Nigerias tax framework. The Bill, titled: A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related Matters, was dated October 4, 2024, and obtained from the National Assembly. An analysis of the proposed legislation on Friday showed that it…

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“?Telecom sector not a panacea for economic challenges”- Telcos to FG

Aminu Imam

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, has rebuffed the notion of using the telecom sector as a quick fix for Nigerias economic woes. Speaking at the launch of the Groupe Spcial Mobile Association (GSMA) digital economy report in Abuja, Adebayo underscored the need to address the telecom industrys fundamental challenges rather than rely on it as a sole solution to broader economic issues. Highlighting the sectors multifaceted challenges, Adebayo stressed the importance of sustainable investment, streamlined regulation, and a conducive business environment to…

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