The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, Karl Toriola, has stated that while the Nigerian Communications Commission has proposed a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators in the country, the regulator has yet to approve its implementation.
Toriola made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Lagos.
He said that a proposal has been submitted to the regulator for the implementation of the tariff increase.
“The headlines for the approvals were around the overarching tariff increase as approved by the minister.
“Now we have made our submissions to the NCC, they will go through the submissions. They’ve been going through them in all details to ensure that it is fair to consumers and ensure that no one has undue competitive advantage to consumers and it will be approved in short order.”
Toriola further said that the NCC has introduced stricter guidelines for telecom operators in response to the proposed tariff increase.
He added that the regulators plan to hold operators accountable if they fail to adhere to these guidelines.
“And we are really been held to task by the authorities on this, with improved cashflow as a result of tariff increases, gives us the abilities to invest, first of all, in a constant supply of diesel and ensuring our sites are kept up.
“And second is expanding our network in the areas we have congestions.
“And third is in putting redundancy into place and as well as customer management systems.
“So we are expected by the authorities to do that in a matter of months, and if we don’t, we’ll be held to account by then,” Toriola expounded.
On January 20, the NCC announced its approval of a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators, citing rising operational costs and the need to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the NCC stated that the decision was in line with its regulatory duties under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress announced plans to hold a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to protest the 50% telecom tariff increase recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
According to a communique signed by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, the decision was taken at an emergency meeting convened by the union’s National Administrative Council on Wednesday.
The NLC stated that the rally will serve as a warning about the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a population already struggling with a minimum wage of only ₦70,000.
They pointed out that this population has already been burdened by steep hikes in petrol prices, high food costs, increased electricity tariffs, and rising inflation.
