By Emeka Aginam
While pleading for staggered payment model, MTN has finally bowed to pressure as it has accepted to pay the N1.04 trillion fine slammed on it last week by the telecoms regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Accordingly, the telecoms operator was fine for violating its directive on SIM deactivation.

This follows series of meeting held between MTN management team from South Africa and Nigeria with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The telecoms operator which has largest subscriber base in Nigeria, it was gathered, may have agreed to pay the fine to sustain the interest of its telecoms business.

Industry sources who confirmed the new arrangement, disclosed that the federal government is already yielding to the plea, which according to him, was part of the agreement reached at the series of meeting held at the weekend in Nigeria.

“There have been series of meeting at the Presidency between the Vice President Osinbajo and MTN team both from South Africa and the Nigerian arm. MTN wanted a waiver considering their level of investments in the country, but government did not buy the idea of waiver. Instead, I think there will be concession, but certainly not a waiver. At the conclusion of the meeting, the MTN people negotiated on how to stagger the payment. The Presidency is even angry because MTN was a signatory to the regulation, but they are failing to comply with rules.”, the source added.

It would be recalled that NCC had said that MTN would not escape the fine, owing to the enormity of its implication to national security.

Although NCC had hinted that the issue is being handled by the federal government, the telecoms authority also noted that MTN would risk withdrawal of its licence if its fails to comply with the fine.

Even with the widespread calls for the intervention of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), on the N1.04 trillion fine, Chief Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had last week called on the NSA not to intervene in the matter, adding that NCC regulation must take its course.

NCC said it had consistently engaged Mobile Network Operators, (MNOs) to strictly adhere to the regulations and its business rules in the registration of their subscribers.

Following several engagements, the Commission had confirmed various cases of violations of the regulations and sanctioned appropriately.

MTN bows to pressure, agrees to pay N1.04trn fine - Vanguard News
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/mtn-bows-to-pressure-agrees-to-pay-n1-04trn-fine/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Hu is still doubting dat we have a new sheriff in town?

just close ur eyes and imagine this was Jonathan's era:

NCC: like I was saying Mr. President, what Mtn did poses danger to our national security. preregistered sim can be used by kidnappers, fraudsters and...

MTN: Mr. President, talk to NCC na!

NCC: (Stands up angrily and points to MTN) don't think u can escape this! the president is on our side and...

JONA: (clears throat)..I am on the side of everybody, okay?

NCC: (surprised) including boko haram?

JONA: Including Asari and Tompolo sef. oh..yes! because I am the president of everybody so let us talk this thing amicably.

NCC: But...

JONA: but nothing. okay? First of all...

MTN: (interjects) go down low

NCC: what?

JONA: MTN, mind yourself. Now, first of all, I want you to hand me the case file of this..

NCC: but Sir...

MTN: (snatches file and gives to JONA).

NCC: What insolent!!!

JONA: listen, NCC, u don dey vex me sef. shey, na u be president abi na me? so, if MTN no snatch the thing commit for ur hand u go refuse abi?
okayyyy...(frowns) now I understand. You dnt even respect me anymore. I...

NCC: I am very...

MTN: shut up my friend! the president is talking!

JONA: go! I will call u later. go now!!!

NNC LEFT ANGRILLY.

JONA: (turns to MTN): So?

MTN: we will transfer it tomorrow morning Sir (smiling). Just as we agreed on.

JONA: I trust u. I trust u. And em...the subscribers that NCC dey shout abt now, na how many?

MTN: don't mind NCC, na just 5million o.

JONA: Jesus!!! Just 5million out of 180million Nigerians na ihn dem wan make u pay that amount?

MTN: ohoo...u sef see...

JONA: Dey go abeg. Just make sure say na alert wake me tomorrow or else..

MTN: no worry Sir. u knw us na..

JONA: I knw everybody. Oya, dey go.

MTN walks out. JONA pick ihn phone call diezani..

JONA: hello ma...hello...(shakes phone) this network sef...hello ma..oh..yea ma, it's me.....thank u...(smiles). Em...I just wan ask why I no see alert yesterday? shebi una don pay subsidy to marketers....

Subscribers in for trouble shaaaaaaa #aftermath

This fine go shake mtn

This one mtn don gree.......make mtn subscribers watch out ooo cos 200 naira airtime na 2minute calls you go make ur airtime go enter 0.45naira

Buhari is in charge, if you flout our laws, be ready to bear the consequences. Left for me, they will pay more. Man-know-man is no longer the way of doing things.

Cool cash; they shouldn't shift their anger to customers o.

bigtt76:
Subscribers in for trouble shaaaaaaa #aftermath

Subscribers are not in any trouble. In fact, subscribers are in for a good time and they should start rejoicing. The era where Mobile telecom operators take their customers for granted is over. NCC is now alive to its regulatory responsibilities and any operator that refuses to play by the rules will be in big trouble. The huge fine imposed on MTN will send a clear message to others to seat up. A new sheriff is in town and it's no longer business as usual.

Dammit! They aren't going out of business? Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! I thought they said they would leave Nigeria? I have never wished any company downfall like i wish for MTN . MTN subscribers would pay for this, directly and indirectly.

now every one will be very careful because of our new sheriff

New mtn call tariff: onnet call 20 kb/sec, offnet 40kb/sec. Data bundle, you subscribe for one month but to ur greatest surprise u notice dat after one week ur data is almost finished. Mtn users be ready to pay back dis fine directly or indirectly.

You guys have no idea how much MTN makes, hence why some ill-informed people were defending them

I don't think they can afford the money
PMB should build some MEGAWATTS out this money ooo

They can't afford to lose Nigeria market

Maga go pay!

Emekamex:
Cool cash; they shouldn't shift their anger to customers o.

You mean customers who has several alternatives?

A quarter of our 2016 budget don sure already.

At least the government said they need $25billion for infrastructure. They have gotten a cool $5billion without sweating. If to say we fit get that $20billion wey Sanusi say e dey miss, the money for just complete gbam.
We no want hear any story o.

Done. Remaining Asian companies operating in the country

Good day gentlemen. Please has anyone noticed that MTN has been taking money from our loaded balances? It happened to me and I will follow it up. I loaded N5000 on my phone. I made one phone call of about minutes to a local number. I slept and woke up and when I opened my bed side drawers, I found an loaded card which I forgot some time ago. Before loading it, I checked my balance and I had only 7350 credit. I have heard people complain about these illegal debits. Pls let's raise our voice and something about this. Few people check their balances and MTN will get away with this. They are doing this in order to pay for the penalty.

Buzzj17:
Good day gentlemen. Please has anyone noticed that MTN has been taking money from our loaded balances? It happened to me and I will follow it up. I loaded N5000 on my phone. I made one phone call of about minutes to a local number. I slept and woke up and when I opened my bed side drawers, I found an loaded card which I forgot some time ago. Before loading it, I checked my balance and I had only 7350 credit. I have heard people complain about these illegal debits. Pls let's raise our voice and something about this. Few people check their balances and MTN will get away with this. They are doing this in order to pay for the penalty.

check your numbers..they dont add up..7350>5000
You can always port to Etisalat or airtel

wachakuta:
Hu is still doubting dat we have a new sheriff in town?

Flat heads association of Nigeria. (the bad one though)

that is like 3 months allocation for FG +SG +Local government

That's almost half of our annual budget fa

MTN are tending towards liquidation!

PRYCE:
MTN are tending towards liquidation!

The news is more of speculation. MTN can't afford that kind of money. Except there will be some kind of waivers, a suspended payment or spread payment. Otherwise, the company CAN'T afford it. We also can't afford to have their license suspended.

Imagine after paying the 1.4trillion. Other network operators reduce their Call/Text/Data charges. Make like Half of MTN subscribers port enter the rest.
.
Then they'll realize "Sh!t just got real"

..The only thing that will make most nigerians happy is to see the mighty fall of this network i don't care if i loose my line when they are done with paying.

They took ma NGN150 way i jst dey manage on saturday for no good reason.Don't feel sorry for them cos they've been scamming nigerians since 1960.

let them start paying up.When people complain ov this network in the phones forum i'll be wondering why they h8 them so much.

i dont even care if NCC steals the 1.4 trn,which dey will definitely do tho.

The fine is N200,000 multiplied by over 5million breaching lines...hope they now understand the meaning of the phrase "new sheriff in town".

The next directive NCC gives, MTN will be the first to comply.

SLIDEwaxie:
just close ur eyes and imagine this was Jonathan's era:

NCC: like I was saying Mr. President, what Mtn did poses danger to our national security. preregistered sim can be used by kidnappers, fraudsters and...

MTN: Mr. President, talk to NCC na!

NCC: (Stands up angrily and points to MTN) don't think u can escape this! the president is on our side and...

JONA: (clears throat)..I am on the side of everybody, okay?

NCC: (surprised) including boko haram?

JONA: Including Asari and Tompolo sef. oh..yes! because I am the president of everybody so let us talk this thing amicably.

NCC: But...

JONA: but nothing. okay? First of all...

MTN: (interjects) go down low

NCC: what?

JONA: MTN, mind yourself. Now, first of all, I want you to hand me the case file of this..

NCC: but Sir...

MTN: (snatches file and gives to JONA).

NCC: What insolent!!!

JONA: listen, NCC, u don dey vex me sef. shey, na u be president abi na me? so, if MTN no snatch the thing commit for ur hand u go refuse abi?
okayyyy...(frowns) now I understand. You dnt even respect me anymore. I...

NCC: I am very...

MTN: shut up my friend! the president is talking!

JONA: go! I will call u later. go now!!!

NNC LEFT ANGRILLY.

JONA: (turns to MTN): So?

MTN: we will transfer it tomorrow morning Sir (smiling). Just as we agreed on.

JONA: I trust u. I trust u. And em...the subscribers that NCC dey shout abt now, na how many?

MTN: don't mind NCC, na just 5million o.

JONA: Jesus!!! Just 5million out of 180million Nigerians na ihn dem wan make u pay that amount?

MTN: ohoo...u sef see...

JONA: Dey go abeg. Just make sure say na alert wake me tomorrow or else..

MTN: no worry Sir. u knw us na..

JONA: I knw everybody. Oya, dey go.

MTN walks out. JONA pick ihn phone call diezani..

JONA: hello ma...hello...(shakes phone) this network sef...hello ma..oh..yea ma, it's me.....thank u...(smiles). Em...I just wan ask why I no see alert yesterday? shebi una don pay subsidy to marketers....

hahhhahahhhahahha guy You suppose dey work with Area!!