Senate warns MultiChoice Nigeria against hike in pay TV subscription tariffs

*Nigerian Senate President, yet again, warns MultiChoice ‘no increase. And that is to say don’t dare our country. No increase in tariffs… our consumers here are people who are innocent, and we are prepared to protect them

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has cautioned Multichoice Nigeria not to dare the West African country by going ahead to hike the tariffs on its products and services while the matter is being investigated.

ConsumerConnect leanrt Senator Lawan issued the latest warning Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, while inaugurating a seven-member Ad Hoc Committee of the Senate headed by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, investigate circumstances around the proposed tariff hike by the South African firm.

Lawan urged the Pay-TV company to stay action by not increasing its product and service tariffs, agency report stated.

“No increase. And that is to say don’t dare our country. No increase in tariffs,” Lawan cautioned.

He cautioned that no foreign operators in the country should take Nigeria for granted.

Recall that the Senate Committee was set up March 30 against the backdrop of an announcement of tariff hike by the MultiChoice Pay TV service provider of DSTV and GoTv respectively.

It was, however, officially inaugurated Tuesday, April 12.

Lawan restated: “No operator should take us for granted. We mean business. We want you to be here.

“Nigeria always provides the climate for you to do your businesses, but don’t abuse the laws of our country.

“Our consumers here are people who are innocent, and we are prepared to protect them.”

He also noted: “When the legitimate interests of our people are threatened, we are supposed to ensure that we protect them.

“It has been the practice of many companies, especially foreign companies, operating in Nigeria to treat the Nigerian consumers of their products in a different way and manner that is not consistent with global best practices.”

The Senate President further urged members of the Ad Hoc Committee to handle the issue very dispassionately with a very clear mind.

“The Consumer Protection Council (now (FCCPC), and other agencies of government and even non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations are supposed to attend this kind of investigation.

“We need to know what roles actually such government institutions established for the purposes of protecting Nigerian consumers perform. What are their problems if they are not doing well.”

Sen. Abdullahi, Chairman of the Committee, had said investigation into the activities of the Pay-TV service providers in the country was long overdue as their activities, over time had ripped Nigerians off their hard-earned incomes, report said.

The Federal lawmaker stated: “It is mind-boggling that barely two years after a price hike by MultiChoice, which was followed by a big uproar by Nigerians, comes another unexpected increment without proper consultation with critical stakeholders.

“This incessant hike in tariff without recourse to constituted authorities is a thing of great concern that calls for questioning.”

Abdullahi also said: “This investigation is an opportunity to right the wrongs and bring these service providers to operate within the confines of the law as obtainable outside the shores of the country.”

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