NCC INTERFERES, AS CSOS SUSPENDS PROTEST AGAINST TELECOM TARIFF HIKE

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) suspended its decision to demonstrate during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, marking a shift in the Council’s stance after extensive deliberations and a forensic review of the economic realities affecting telecom service providers.

Last week, the NCSCN convened an emergency meeting following the Federal Government’s approval of a 50 percent tariff hike for telecom operators. 

The Council, together with its 620 affiliate organizations, initially condemned the decision and planned a mass protest to occupy the headquarters of the NCC and the National Assembly until the government reversed the tariff hike.

However, in what the Council described as an unprecedented display of responsiveness, the NCC reached out within 24 hours to begin negotiations. In response, the NCSCN assembled an 11-man delegation for a four-hour meeting with NCC officials.

According to the NCSCN executive director, the Council’s delegation had approached the meeting to challenge the communications commission on the tariff decision. However, detailed presentations, economic assessments, and operational data provided during the meeting resulted in a re-evaluation of the situation.