The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the National Association of Telecoms Consumers of Nigeria (NATCOM) yesterday warned telecoms service providers in the country against hiking the tariff of telecoms services.

They spoke against the backdrop of plans by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to begin the implementation of one of the provisions of Cybercrime Act 2015 which made provision for the collection of 00.05 per cent levy on all electronic transactions to be deposited into a National Cyber Security Fund account.

The Director-General, CPC, Babatunde Irukera, who spoke on the sideline of the first Annual National Media Workshop organised by Electronic Payment Providers Association (EPPAN) in Lagos, said argued that it will amount to unfair practice if the operators go ahead to put the cost of the service consumers did not enjoy on them by way of its threat to increase enterprise and retail services in the sector.

The workshop had: Promoting Digital Literacy to Enhance Public Confidence and Financial Inclusion as its theme.

“What consumer will accept is fair and transparent reason that directly accepts the service they enjoyed.  We are not comfortable with the operators to transfer the cost of their business that does not associate with the service they provide that we will not accept.

“So I think the telcos should seek redress on the CBN’s directive to the banks on the collection of 0.005 per cent levy on all electronic transactions into a National Cyber Security Fund account and not make subscribers to pay the running cost of their business,” he said.

Also speaking, NATCOM President, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, also warned the telcos against any tariff increase, lamenting that it would add to the burden of the already over-burdened subscribers in the e-payment sector if implemented.

He said:  “The 00.05per cent e-transaction implementation will be a direct burden on the already laden subscribers in the telecoms sector.

“Please, operators should work with the industry regulator (Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and ensure that government is not adding more responsibility that will in-turn be transferred on subscribers. I am so sure the Cyber Crime bill did not say telecommunication subscribers should be ripped off.”
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