The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC has told telcos in Nigeria to focus on service quality after the 50% tariff hike approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC.
In a statement on Wednesday, the FCCPC acknowledged the rising cost of operations for telcos but said consumers come first.
It said any tariff increase must be accompanied by visible and measurable improvement in service.
The commission commended the NCC for being balanced in the approval of the tariff increase, saying the 50% was far lower than the over 100% proposed by telcos.
The FCCPC also commended the NCC for tying the tariff increase to specific commitments to improve service while reducing the financial burden on consumers.
As part of the new directive, telcos are now required to be more transparent in their pricing. This includes disclosing upfront the details of their plans, costs, validity periods and benefits.
A mandatory disclosure table will also be introduced to help subscribers make informed decisions and avoid surprises like hidden charges.
Despite this, many Nigerians are still not satisfied with telecom services, citing issues like dropped calls, network congestion, slow internet and poor customer service. These complaints, it said, means the extra revenue from the tariff increase should be invested in infrastructure development and service improvement.
The commission also referenced its existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NCC to ensure fair competition, consumer protection and eradication of exploitative practices in the telecom sector.
It said any tariff increase must be balanced and consumer friendly.
The commission said Telcos should use the extra revenue to address the long outstanding issues of network reliability, speed and accessibility.
The FCCPC said clear mechanisms must be put in place to monitor how the funds are used so that they benefit the consumers directly.
The commission also said operators must communicate openly with subscribers on the reasons for the tariff increase. Transparency on how the increase is linked to service improvement and infrastructure will build trust and confidence with consumers.
This is the reality of the telecom sector in Nigeria and the growing need for better services. Now the ball is in the court of the operators to make the promises of better service a reality for millions of Nigerians.