Over the weekend, various Nigerian media outlets reported a hike in tariff plans on all Nigerian telecommunications. According to the reports, the hike emanated from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the increase was to affect all voice calls, data and SMS services.
The viral report came even as Nigerians decried bad network connections amidst the #Endbadgovernance protest across the nation.
Claim: NCC approves hike in telecom tariffs?
Verdict: FALSE
While trying to verify the claim, CDD War Room found that various online media had published the report on the increased tariff citing the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as the source. Read here, here and here. We combed through the NCC website and social media handles for any announcement on the issue.
CDD found a statement from the Commission’s social media page debunking the reports. According to them, “NCC issued a directive for all operators to simplify their current tariff plans in a transparent & fair manner for consumers.”
Also found on their website was a ‘Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector’ document dated July 29, 2024, and released July 30, 2024. After a quick perusal, we found that the document was a guide to simplifying telecom tariffs to make them easier to understand and ensure fair competition. It also reduces the number of tariff plans and bundles, requires clear information for consumers, and mandates operators to notify subscribers of any changes in advance.
A sample of a simplified reporting template is below.
Verdict: FALSE
NCC did not approve any hike in tariff but asked that all telecom companies operating in the country to present a simplified and transparent tariff plan to the public.
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