Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, is currently in talks with telecommunications companies to address their demands for a 100% tariff increase.
The telcos claim that the recent removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira have created harsh economic realities, making it difficult for them to maintain current prices.
Top executives from major telecom companies, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile, are currently attending the meeting.
The meeting, which kicked off earlier today, brings together key stakeholders and regulatory bodies, such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The stakeholders are said to be discussing the telecom operators’ recent lobbying efforts for a tariff increase, citing rising operational costs and the need to sustain service quality and network expansion.
However, the Government insisted, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, that the Telcos still have options to explore based on the 2013 tariff price floor currently in operation.
The telecommunications companies have lamented that there may be disruptions in services if their demands are not met.