NCC to Senate: Non-adoption of Data Price Floor is a Disaster Waiting to Happen

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The Executive Vice Chairman, of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, tuesday said the non- adoption of a data price floor in the telecommunication industry is a whirlwind that would do all the stakeholders no good.

The EVC made the disclosure, when members of the Senate Committee on Telecommunications, led by Senator Gilbert Nnaji, paid him a courtesy visit at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

According to Danbatta, it had become imperative that stakeholders agree on appropriate price floor on data for the good of the industry, adding that a proper cost based study would soon be concluded by the commission.
In their remarks, the Senate commended the EVC for placing national interest above all other interests, especially regarding the steps taken so far to sanitise the telecoms industry.

On the fine paid by MTN, the Senate noted the commission’s handling of the MTN’s N1.04 trillion fine though later reduced to an acceptable amount by both parties, adding that the recent outcry over the planned increase on data tariff, which the commission suspended was also commendable.

“We will like to commend President Buhari for putting a square peg in a square hole with the appointment of Professor Danbatta as the EVC of the NCC. Within the past one year, the agency has brought sanity into the telecom sector by promptly addressing all regulatory issues.

“Each time we invited the leadership of the agency to the National Assembly, they honoured our invitation and responded to our inquiries, particularly during the MTN issue, and of recent the data price floor.
“They have acted in national interests and Nigerians see NCC as being on their side” said the Senate through the Senate Committee on Communications.”

The committee urged NCC to make details of its 2017 budget available on time to enable members go through and approve to avoid the delay occasioned by the 2016 budget.