The Arewa Youth Meeting has expressed its assist for the 50 per cent tariff enhance permitted by the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) for telecommunication firms within the nation.
Describing the tariff hike as a welcome improvement, the group famous that it might open the telecom sector for strong progress and funding.
Speaker of the Arewa Youth Meeting, Mohammed Danlami, in an announcement on Thursday, said that the rise in telecommunication tariffs is lengthy overdue and vital.
“The telecommunication sector, which employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians instantly and powers different sectors of the nation, is the one sector that has maintained the established order when it comes to service pricing regardless of the skyrocketing prices of its primary operational necessities, equivalent to diesel, energy, and manpower,” he mentioned.
Danlami added that the business was nearing the purpose of collapse as a result of world inflation, rising operational prices, excessive international trade charges, and elevated community upkeep bills, which rendered telecom firms ineffective in delivering companies to Nigerians.
“No severe regulator that understands the necessity for market-reflective costs would have folded its arms to permit such a collapse,” Danlami said.
He defined that the tariff adjustment was a vital determination to protect the business and its affect on the broader economic system, highlighting that “every part in Nigeria at present will depend on telecoms, whether or not it’s healthcare, schooling, company companies, and even the federal government.”
Danlami harassed the significance of the tariff enhance to strengthen the business and enhance service supply.
He mentioned, “Moreover, this tariff adjustment will assist operators buy new gear to boost the nation’s telecommunication infrastructure. It will additionally re-energise the sector in a method that will result in a surge in investments.
“It will finally translate to improved community high quality, expanded entry, and a greater expertise for shoppers. We on the Arewa Youth Meeting are hopeful that the sector will develop past expectations, creating extra alternatives for our individuals to get jobs in telecoms.”
Danlami criticised these opposing the tariff enhance, mentioning that they’re typically the identical people who complain about poor service supply.
He argued that with out cost-reflective pricing, telecom firms can’t enhance their infrastructure to fulfill rising demand.
The group urged the sector’s regulator to make sure equity, transparency, and accountability within the telecommunications business.
It additionally known as on telecom operators to make use of the proceeds from the adjusted tariff costs to instantly put money into enhancing companies, stating that Nigerians’ assist for the tariff adjustment was conditional on higher service high quality.
The youth group known as for calm and understanding from Nigerians, expressing optimism for improved progress within the telecom sector, higher buyer safety, enhanced telecom effectivity, and the sustainability of Nigeria’s telecommunication business.
