Senate Issues New Order To Pay-TV Service Providers In Nigeria| READ DETAILS

By Nancy Okafor:

The Nigerian Senate has directed all Pay-TV service providers to immediately review their bouquet prices downwards in tandem with the prevailing reality of the economic situation in Nigeria.

This was even as the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and the Nigerian Communications Commission to direct all Pay-TV providers to introduce a pay-per-view model of subscription as against the month to month prepaid model presently in place.

The Upper Legislative house in a motion kicked against the increase in tariffs by Multi-Choice Nigeria sponsored by Senator Abba Moro.

In his presentation, Senator Moro noted with concern the uproar within the public over tariff hikes, price increases by Pay-TV service providers on their bouquets;

He stated that the leading Pay-TV service provider in Nigeria, (Multi-Choice Nigeria) informed all DStv compact subscribers on August, 22 2020, to expect a 13.3% price increase to N7,900 up from N6, 975 commencing from September 1, 2020.

Moro bemoaned the hike in subscription fee for DStv compact plus by 9.8 percent from N10,925 to N12,000, and DStv premium from N16, 200 to N18,400 indicating a 13.6% hike.

Contributing to the debate in support of the motion, some lawmaker expressed concern that thousands of Pay-TV subscribers in Nigeria have bitterly reacted to the development on different social media platforms, ranging from deep shock to pure outrage with many asking the Nigerian government to checkmate the activities of Pay-TV service providers in Nigeria especially in the area of fixing prices.

After the consideration of the motion, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, constituted a seven-man ad-hoc committee to probe the tariff hike introduced by Pay-TV service providers operating in the country.

The Senate President, while announcing the composition of the ad-hoc committee, tasked the panel to carry out a comprehensive investigation into how other countries are billed by Pay-TV service providers.

The ad-hoc committee will embark on full scale investigation on the pricing activities of DStv (MultiChoice Nigeria) in Nigeria to bring it in line with international practice.