NANS orders Multichoice to reverse price hike
By Abimbola Mohammed
Following the announcement made by Multichoice Nigeria to hike the price of DStv and GOtv by 17%, starting from 1st of May 2023, the National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS), south-west zone, has given Multichoice Nigeria a seven-day ultimatum to reverse its plan.
The student association made this known in a statement signed on Tuesday, by its Coordinator, Adejuwon Olatunji, Deputy Coordinator, Alao John, and Public Relations Officer, Opeoluwa Awoyinfa.
It would be recalled that, while announcing the adjustment of prices on both its DStv and GOtv packages via a text message to its subscribers, Multichoice Nigeria said: “Due to the various economic challenges impacting our business operations, we have had to review the price of our packages to continue delighting our customers with great entertainment, anytime and anywhere.
“The new prices for MultiChoice Nigeria’s DStv and GOtv packages will be effective from May 1, 2023. The DStv Premium package will see a price increase of ₦3,500 or 16.7%, going from ₦21,000 to ₦24,500. The DStv Compact+ package will have an addition of ₦2,350 or 16.5%, jumping from ₦14,250 to ₦16,600. Similarly, the DStv Compact package will go from N9,000 to ₦10,500, a ₦1,500 or 16.7% increase. The DStv Confam package, currently priced at ₦5,300, will see a 17% increment to ₦6,200. The DStv Yanga package will get a ₦550 boost from ₦2,950 to ₦3,500, equivalent to 18.6%. Lastly, the DStv Padi package will increase from ₦2,150 to ₦2,500, a difference of ₦350 or 16.3%.”
Opposing the subscription hike, the student body said the South African company was bringing hardship on, and extorting Nigerians, without considering their standard of living. It also noted that tariffs should be charged on a “pay as you view” basis.
“Today, we are aware that Multi Choice Digital Satellite has increased its tariffs without considering the standard of living of Nigerians. We have also waited for long to see if this same company will dance to the music of Nigerians who have been clamouring for ‘pay-as-you-view’ tariff, but the reverse is the case.
“This is the time to call on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to go back to the Commission’s act to regulate the ownership, activities and operations of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Providers. DSTV is one of the leading direct-to-home service providers in Nigeria since its inception of operation from as far back as 1995, and has also made a lot of profit with over 25 million subscribers which is the largest market for its operations
“We want the Federal Government to stampede their proposed plan in tariffs increment and also force them to implement the pay-as-you-view system. We are aware that DSTV operates a system of pay-as-you-go tariffs in other countries,” NANS said in a statement.
According to NANS, Nigeria constitutes over 45 percent of DStv global market share, and therefore called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Minister of Communication to “break the sporting right of MultiChoice” and provide an alternative service provider in the country, so that “Nigerians can stop being exploited on a daily basis.”
“We hereby give seven days ultimatum to MultiChoice Digital Satellite Television to reverse the plan of increasing the tariffs and also yield to the call of Nigerians by implementing pay-as-you-view tariffs, or else, we shall be left with no other option but to lock up all offices of DSTV until our demands are met which is the mind of all Nigerians,” NANS said in a statement.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Comment
No comments found.