The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive to mobile network operators (MNOs) to streamline their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities, News About Nigeria reports.
In a statement, the Commission said this is to provide subscribers with clear, concise, and accurate information regarding the costs associated with various services, including voice calls, SMS, and data.
According to the NCC’s Spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, the directive is designed to simplify the complex tariff structures that have been a source of confusion for many subscribers.
The Commission released a comprehensive guideline, titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” which outlines the requirements for MNOs to provide detailed information about their tariff plans and bundle offerings.
The guideline mandates MNOs to provide a detailed table containing all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions.
This includes details on add-ons, prices, opt-in and opt-out procedures, terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover policies.
The Commission has stressed that the guideline is the outcome of extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and consumer focus groups, as well as data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.
The primary objectives of the simplification guidelines are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness of promotional elements, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardising tariff structures.
“To achieve these objectives, service providers are required to display all relevant information about their tariffs, including the name of the plan, price, validity period, price-per-second for on or off-network and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies,” the statement said.
“Furthermore, operators are allowed to maintain existing bonus-led tariff plans until December 31, 2024, within which period they are expected to educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans,” the statement read.
