Tag Archives: Reversal

NCC Explains Proposal, Reversal Of Plans To Hike Data Price

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The Nigerian Communications Commission on Wednesday announced the immediate suspension of the new minimum pricing template for data services by mobile operators in the country.

The director, Public Affairs at the NCC, Tony Ojobo, said the decision to rescind its earlier directive to telecom operators to commence charging the new floor price rate for data from December 1, was to allow for further consultation with industry interest groups.

“Following concerns that visited the directive to introduce price floor for data segment of the telecommunications sector beginning from December 1, 2016, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has suspended any further action in that direction,” Mr. Ojobo said in a statement.

“The decision to suspend this directive was taken after due consultation with industry stakeholders and the general complaints by consumers across the country.”

Mr. Ojobo said the Commission has already asked all operators to maintain the status quo until the conclusion of study to determine retail prices for broadband and data services in the country.

Prior to the suspension, Nigerians had raised concerns about the impropriety of the decision by government to hike price of data at this time.

Several Nigerians accused the NCC of insensitivity, considering the high cost of living in the face of the current economic recession in the country.

Social media users expressed fears the government planned to limit citizens’ access to the Internet.

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DisCos Reject Call For Reversal Of Privatisation

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The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has rejected the call for the reversal of  power sector privatisation.

Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, had made the call while speaking at the Senior Executive Course 38 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.

Dangote said some of the people who bought power assets do not have an understanding of what they bought.

He advised the government to negotiate with them and find solutions to the problems confronting the sector.

“We should be as open as we can if government doesn’t intervene by taking back these assets and giving them to people who really have money that they can really inject, we will not be able to deliver on power,” he had said.

But the distribution companies (DisCos)  said they have been doing their best, and that there can be no “overnight” solution to a sector that had been mismanaged for over 63 years.

“Anyone who has followed the privatisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) would recognise that the sector has been bedevilled by a number of challenges that would make the most hardened risk-seeking investor to run in the opposite direction,” ANED said.

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DisCos reject call for reversal of privatisation

NLC Insists On Reversal Of Electricity Tariff Increment

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to muster the necessary courage to revisit and review the privatization exercise of the power sector given the painful intractable problems around the sector.

The congress also insisted it would embark on a one day national strike and protest in collaboration with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to protest the hike in electricity tariff in the country.

These, among others were part of the resolutions reached at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Abuja and made available to journalists.

The resolutions which were contained in a communique signed by NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, also called on government to do all that is necessary to dismantle the cabal in the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The communique reads in part, “CWC observed that in the aftermath of the nation-wide rallies and pickets, DISCOs had assured Nigerians they would make available metres to customers within a limited time via the process of accelerated production and distribution/sale of metres. CWC noted that nearly three months after, most customers continue to be subjected to estimated billing.

“CWC observed that the dwindling quality of service continues to place Nigerians in an unfortunate situation of paying higher for darkness. CWC accordingly resolved to call an emergency meeting of NEC in conjunction with TUC to perfect the process of a one-day national warning strike/protest to impress on government the resolve of the labour movement, civil society organisations and Nigerians not to accept the increase.

Credit: Leadership

Senate Condemns “Ultra-Wicked” Electricity Tariff Hike, Demands Reversal

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The Nigerian Senate has asked the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and electricity distribution companies to immediately suspend the new electricity tariffs that has seen charges raised by over 40 per cent.

The Senate gave the order Tuesday, following a motion sponsored by Suleiman Nafiz (APC-Bauchi North).

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, described the tariff raise as “ultra-wicked and unconscionable”.

Despite Nigeria’s dismal electricity output, the federal government implemented the new tariff regime on February 1, sparking widespread criticisms and nationwide street protests by the organised Labour.

But the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the measure was a “bitter pill” Nigerians must swallow to enjoy optimal service delivery in the power sector.

Mr. Nafiz asked the Senate to probe how funds allocated to electricity companies were spent.

In his contribution, Dino Melaye, (APC-Kogi west) noted that the latest increase in electricity tariff was the fourth since the privatisation of power.

Credit: PremiumTimes