News
NATCOMS rejects alleged tariff hike, urges NCC to nullify it
The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has rejected the alleged Telecoms tariff hike and called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to nullify its approval.
NATCOMS made this known in a communiqué issued after its National Exco held an emergency meeting on the planned tariff hike of Telecommunication Services in the Country.
The communiqué signed by its National President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo and the National Secretary Bayo Omotubora, also advised operators to embrace other options of generating funds for their operations.
The duo explained that the new increment would make telecommunication Services more expensive by 40 per cent and attract 12.5 per cent tax rate, pricing two thirds of Telecoms Services Subscribers out of its market.
“Under the new tariffs regime, a voice call will rise from N11.00 to N15.40 per minute, short message services will jump from N4.00 to N5.60.
“One GB data bundle will move from N1,000 to N1,400. This represents additional digital costs consumers will have to square up with at the beginning of a new year among other harsh economic realities of Nigeria of today.
“This is a complete negation of the statutory duty of NCC to protect the interest of Telecom Services Consumers.
“We are aware of the arguments of the Telecoms Operators that there has not been any tariff increment in a decade, multiple levies slammed on them by different tiers of Government and the dollarization costs of their equipment.
“But truth be told, there are many other avenues through which the operators can generate funds to meet their rising operational costs without putting unbearable burden on their consumers.”
NATCOMS suggested the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market, for instance, as a veritable avenue for the operators to raise funds to meet their costs requirements.
“This Association considers the decision of the NCC as very insensitive and not in the interest of Telecoms Services Consumers.
“The unrelenting rise in prices of Goods and Services in the country has made life extremely difficult for the generality of citizens who are the consumers of telecom services.
“The new increment is therefore one additional burden too many.”
NATCOMS noted that telecoms services were taxable services under the Value Added Tax Act amended in 2019, by the Finance Act, to raise the tax rate from 5 per cent to 7.5 Per cent.
“That increment brought about untold hardship to our members, many of whom have been forced to cut back on their telecommunication requirements.”
The association urged the NCC to reconsider its decision in the interest of the generality of citizens.
The News Agency (NAN) reports that the NCC, when contacted for its reaction, said all issues around the tariff hike should be ignored.
The Commission also said that it would provide an official statement to the public to clarify all speculations about Telecoms tariff hike. (NAN)
… Say government commences campaign against Rubella disease
By Solomon Attah,
Lafia
Nasarawa State Government has confirmed over 40 cases of measles outbreak in Taliga village of Rukubi electoral ward in Doma local government area of the state.
Gaza Gwamna, the State Commissioner of Health, confirmed the disease outbreak at a one day stakeholders engagement meeting for the introduction of measles and rubella vaccine into the routine immunization schedule.
The Health Commissioner said, he was informed by the authority from the affected community on the outbreak.
“It is saddening to let you know that, I woke up with a text message that there is an outbreak of measles in Taliga village of Rukubi Doma local government area of the state.
“The outbreak was massive, where over 40 cases of the measles was confirmed by the authority.”
He said the event is coming at a time the government is putting more effort on immunization of children from child killer diseases.
Gwamna, assured that with the robust health team and programme put in place by the state government, the government will not relent in it interventions.
“If the state government was able to content with COVID-19 and became first in the country, the Rukubi Measles outbreak shouldn’t be a challenge as government has already sent a team of health personnel to content with the disease.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the commencement of Rubella vaccine in October this year, Nasarawa state government expressed it readiness to ensure all eligible children are immunize against rubella measles in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, at the event said the disease is real and has affected a number of lives particularly babies.
Governor Sule m, who was represented y his deputy, Emmanuel Akabe, described Rubella as a contagious viral infection, best known by its distinctive red rash.
He said, parents are pains as a result of Rubella because the negative changes on the body of their babies frustrate them.
“This informed the decision of the federal government to introduce the vaccines into our routine immunization schedules, not just a a public health initiative but as a testament of our collective commitments to the well-being of every stakeholders in nasarawa state”.
He said, the Rubella vaccines which is to be administered on children from 9 to 15 months is safe, effective and has been used successfully in countries across the globe.
“It is instructive to say that the vaccine offers us a powerful shift against the threat”.
“As ordered, the integration of measles and Rubella vaccines into our existing immunization programmes is a deliberate proactive and decisive measure towards building healthier and more resilient generations”.
He also informed the stakeholders that the success of the initiative is hinge on collective efforts and desire to impact.
Earlier, Iskilu Sale, the State Executive Secretary Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the vaccine is safe and the overall goal is to mobilize support and sustain commitment from government official, as well community leaders for the effective integration and continue use of Rubella vaccine into the routine immunization.
The event was organized in collaboration of the office of the state first lady and state primary healthcare development agency.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said that past leaders from the North in the last 20 years should apologize to the people for the woes they are currently experiencing.
Sani claimed that anyone who had held a political office in the last 20 years must look at himself in the mirror and apologize to the people of Northern Nigeria for letting them down.
The governor stated this in an interview with Daily Trust newspaper, where he stated that he doesn’t have problem with those criticizing the government.
However, Sani expressed displeasure with past leaders from the zone who have now turned critics of the current government.
The governor claimed that the problem of northern Nigeria didn’t start two years ago but in the last 20 years, noting that those in government positions during the period are part of the problem.
He said: “Why did we fight the military in the past? Because we were fighting for the people, we weren’t fighting to contest for the election. We were fighting because we want democracy to be entrenched in Nigeria. I don’t have problem with those criticizing the government .
“But when you’re fighting a government that you were part of, you contributed to the situation where it is today. Anybody from Northern Nigeria who held a political office in the last 20 years, all of us must look at ourselves in the mirror and apologize to the people of Northern Nigeria, we let them down.
“The problem of northern Nigeria didn’t start two years ago, we are looking at the trajectory in the last 20 years. I can give you the statistics and data. I know the poverty index of Northern Nigeria. I know the number of people in Northern Nigeria that are financially excluded.
“People tend to forget when Buhari was in power, he spent hundreds of billions towards social interventions. But I will tell you why the north became poorer even after that because 70 percent of people that live in northern Nigeria, particularly the masses, are completely financially excluded.
“Every human being, if you’re a former president, governor, vice president, senator, house of Rep member in the northern Nigeria in the past 20 years, I will tell you you are part of the problem. That’s is why I don’t believe we should deceive the northern Nigeria. That’s is why I don’t believe we should misinform them.”
The Zamfara Civil Society Organization has accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of obstructing the Nigerian Federal Government’s efforts to address the escalating insecurity in the northwestern state, alleging that he is politicising the crisis for electoral gain.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group’s spokesperson,Ahmad Ibrahim maradun, claimed that Governor Lawal has failed to confront the state’s security challenges head-on, instead exploiting the issue to deflect blame.
“Rather than supporting the Federal Government’s initiatives to address insecurity, Dauda has consistently failed to confront the matter directly,” Umar said.
“He appears to politicise anything related to the security challenges.”
The accusations come amid reports that bandits and terrorists have imposed a 60 million naira (£28,000) levy on villages in Zamfara, exacerbating the plight of impoverished communities.
The organization questioned how residents, already struggling, could meet such demands and called for a state of emergency in Zamfara due to “the lack of political governance and deepening insecurity.”
During the 2023 election campaign, Lawal heavily criticised his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, now the Minister of State for Defence, accusing him of failing to curb insecurity.
However, the group argue that Lawal has not delivered on his promises to address the crisis, pointing to his failure to engage stakeholders or hold town hall meetings to tackle the situation.
In contrast, the group praised Matawalle for mobilising thousands of security personnel to Zamfara, though they noted that these forces receive little support from the state government.
“The Federal Government cannot address this alone,” Umar said, questioning how Lawal is utilising security funds allocated to the state.
The group contrasted Lawal’s approach with that of other state governors, such as Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau and Hyacinth Alia of Benue, who have actively sought federal intervention during crises, yielding visible results.
They also highlighted Matawalle’s success in reducing insecurity other northern states, suggesting that Lawal’s refusal to collaborate with him may be driven by political motives ahead of the 2027 elections.
“What exactly is Dauda doing to tackle the insecurity claiming the lives of the people of Zamfara?” Umar asked, urging the governor to work with federal authorities to restore peace.
Neither Governor Lawal’s office nor the Zamfara State government has responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.