House of reps
The house of representatives has asked MultiChoice Nigeria to suspend the hike in the subscription rates of DStv and GOtv packages.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during a plenary session following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Esosa lyawe, a lawmaker from Edo state.
On February 24, MultiChoice announced an increase in the price of subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages.
The development came nearly one year after the firm increased its subscription rates.
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In the latest price adjustment, the pay-TV firm said from March 1, customers on the DStv premium bouquet will pay N44,500, compared to the current rate of N37,000, and those on Compact+ would pay N30,000 — up from N25,000.
Customers on Compact bouquet will pay N19,000 — up from N17,000.
On February 27, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) directed MultiChoice to maintain its current subscription prices until an ongoing investigation into the price hike is concluded.
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THE MOTION
Moving the motion, lyawe said due to the dominant position of Multichoice in the pay-TV sector, price increases always have a widespread impact and put consumers under undue pressure.
He said the recent hike has triggered widespread criticism from subscribers, “many of whom have taken to social media to express their frustration over frequent price hikes without a corresponding improvement in service quality and the seeming aloof stance of the government towards the situation”.
The motion was adopted when Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, subjected it to a voice vote.
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Consequently, the house mandated the committee on information to investigate the “arbitrary increase in subscription prices by Multichoice to ensure implementation of cost-effective policies in the pay-TV sector for consumers”.
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