FG never authorised NCC to raise data tariff, says Shittu

Adebayo Shittu, the minister of communications, says there was never a time when the government gave the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) permission to increase data tariff.

The NCC approved a new minimum pricing for data services by mobile operators.

The commission had directed that the floor plan for data should be 0.90k/MB, which would be effective, December 1.

But speaking on Raypower’s programme Fact File on Wednesday, Shittu said “logistics” may have informed NCC’s decision.

“There are reasons for what they have done. The reasons, I’m sure, will not be political; the reason will be more of logistics and all of that and as you have requested me to do I will do that,” Shittu said.

“But I want to say that I was not privy to it, I was not party to it. Government never gave any such instruction and the government, as the representative of the people, have never done that; that the voice of Nigerians must not be muscled.

“This government came into the democratic process and it has a duty to continue to protect the interest of Nigerians and I can assure you, we will do that and we will do the needful in protecting the rights and privileges of Nigerians.”

When asked why there were still no sanctions to telecom operators sending unsolicited text messages, the minister said he was also a victim of it.

“About 6 months ago I had cause to invite all the telecom operators and virtually read the riot act to them. If that has not been done I can assure you it will be done. We are concerned about the interest of Nigerians,” he said.

“We are concerned that Nigerians should not be taken for ride. As the minister of communications, I’m also a victim just like every other Nigerian. I also suffer the same fate as telecom operators, so let me assure you that we will redouble our efforts to curtail the excesses of the telecom operators.”