... and others over discriminatory billing system.

By Naija Eye Witness Reporter.

The Deputy Chairman Communications Committee and member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Hon. Unyime Idem, was inaugurated as Chairman of the Ad-hoc committee set up by the House of Representatives, to investigate DSTV, others, over discriminatory billing system foisted on unsuspecting Nigerians. This appointment comes barely few months after he sponsored a motion on non-implementation of Pay-As-You-Go Tariff plan by DSTV and other Broadcast Satellite Service Providers in Nigeria.

The inauguration which took place today Tuesday June 2, 2020 at the House Conference room 034, was carried out by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilla who was represented by the House Deputy Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Peter Akpatason.

While inaugurating the ad-hoc Committee, Speaker Femi maintained that the task before the ad-hoc committee was an important one aimed at unravelling why Digital Satellite Television Service Providers in Nigeria are not giving Nigerians maximum value for their money by not applying the principles of Fair service “PAY-AS-YOU-GO Tariff Plan. Speaker Femi added that the Chairman and members of the committee were persons of high moral standards and proven integrity and that the House repose high confidence in their ability to deliver on their assigned mandate. He urged them to ensure that the by-product of the Ad-hoc Committee assignment will help to ensure compliance to the established regulations guiding operations of the Satellite Broadcast Service providers, especially as it relates to terms and conditions set out in the third schedule of the Act establishing the National Broadcasting Commission.

Responding, Rep. Idem thanked the House leadership for finding him and his colleagues fit for the national assignment and promised to deliver on the mandate of the Committee stating that he understands the enormity of the responsibility of the task ahead and the bobby- traps, discouragements and allegations the investigative assignment may generate. He assured Nigerians of their resolve to ensure that they get value for their money while using DSTV and other satellite broadcast stations. He also wondered why these firms are sleazing Nigerians of their hard-earned fortunes by way of monthly subscription while subscribers in their home countries enjoys Pay-As-You-Go.

“Let me sincerely thank the leadership of the House for finding us fit to carry out this national assignment. I understand the enormity of the responsibility ahead, the bobby- traps, discouragements and allegations this investigative assignment may generate but be assured that we are going to be above board. Nigerians must be at liberty to use or not to use any payment made and validly standing on their name from any service providers without a fixed time frame. The services rendered by foreign and local digital satellite service providers must be user friendly. Refusal to implement Pay-As-You-Go Tariff amounts to economically enslaving Nigerians and robbing Peter to pay Paul. The need to protect fellow citizens and the economy, underscores why this assignment has to be done now. We cannot afford to connive with fraud-stars and economic saboteurs who subtly defraud the country and the citizens by their way of billing.”

Recall that Rep. Idem had on March 17, 2020, sponsored a motion on the floor of the House, questioning the rationale behind the current tariff plan used by broadcast satellite service providers in Nigeria where subscription is done on a monthly basis while users are made to forgo their unused subscriptions. He described the plan as sabotaging the economy, robbing Peter to pay Paul and modern-day slavery imposed on Nigerians by Digital Broadcast Satellite Service Providers chief among whom are South African-owned DSTV and GOTV.

Sequel to the people-centric motion moved by the Ukanafun-born lawmaker, the House among other prayers resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter.