By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
A pan-African students group, Progressive Students Movement (PSM), has given a 72-hour ultimatum to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecom companies to reverse the recent 50 per cent hike in tariff.
President of PSM, Comrade Bestman Okereafor, called for the review and reversal in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu,on Tuesday.
Okereafor noted that the increment at this time is “unjustifiable, untimely, and insensitive; hence the total rejection of this anti-masses increment.”
PSM called on NCC and telecommunications companies to review their stance, as a matter of urgency.
He said: “The attention of PSM has been drawn to NCC’s approval of Telecom operators’ 50 per cent tariff increment.
“It will be recalled that telecom operators had previously demanded to adjust their tariff rate; a request which many Nigerians especially Nigerian students frowned at.
“Information at our disposal shows that NCC approved the telecom companies’ request in response to rising operational costs, to the detriment of Nigerians and the obvious economic realities facing the country.
“However, this development, which allows for a maximum of 50 per cent adjustment to current tariffs, was announced in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, on Monday, Jan. 20.”
The PSM leader warned that the entire students’ bodies would protest the “abnormal and inconsiderate” increment in tariff if not reviewed in the next 72 hours.
