Nigerians have had enough of the bitter pill: Reverse data tariff now By Babs Richard.
Life is becoming so unbearable, the economy seems to lack the required working model. Legitimate earners are turning to assistance seekers owing to non-payment of salaries. Crime seems to be on the increase, there has been astronomical hike in food prices and many are becoming homeless due to lack of money to pay up rent. These are the better pills that Nigerians have come to continually chew because of the believe in the integrity of President Buhari, not because they are happy.
Initially it was increment in pump price of petrol without provision for economic respite, no salary increment of the workforce and no immediate social security programmes to cushion the effect of recession. Despite that Nigerians have continued to sacrifice more because they are optimistic that after a windy sand bubbles come a clearer atmosphere. People who initially believed that we got into this mess because of the recklessness and corruption of the past governments are to my surprise asking that the past government be restored to them at least to be able to buy petrol at N85 per litre and bag of rice at N8000. No matter how insensitive it may sound, it simply reflects the level of frustration that people have been perpetually conditioned to muster in.
As if the sufferings are not enough, the National Communications Commission is looking to increase data tariff on all communication networks starting from December 1st, 2016. This is outrightly insensitive and socio-economically disgusting. What the heck of revenue are they looking to generate from such tarriff hike? Is the NCC aware that many people save and deprive themselves to even buy N500 data to keep in touch with their families home and abroad for one form of assistance or the other? Is the NCC aware that the use of Internet is what has kept so many jobless youths engaged that they are not chasing politicians around in their babarigas to mob them? Is the NCC aware that some small scale businesses that are yearning to grow depend on the Internet for productivity? Is the NCC aware that for a country to be more productive, her citizens must be given low cost access to the Internet if not free? I have never seen any country that create burdens on her citizens like Nigeria. In the age of global technological advancement, we should be striving to be on the competitive edge with the rest of the world and not try to bring up policies that brings retrogression to us. As at today, despite the economic harsh conditions, well over 70% of Nigerians are Internet users. The low data users alone go for as much as 43%. The low data users subscribe to low data because they could not afford bigger data bundle. Now what happens if tariff is increased by 100%? It means that we would be left with 27% average users if not less. If there is any societal unrest this might cost, then it means people who are already used to Internet would look for money at all cost to buy data. This might lead to stealing, robbery, prostitution, brain drain and other sharp practices. Sometimes I wonder if our policy makers have got an empty shell in their medulla to consider the implications of a singular policy decision. It is not a rocket science, many learn one thing or the other on the internet. When they are not able to learn anymore, the next thing is for them to begin to constitute nuisance in the public. You can not create hardship for too long to get out of hardship. Many untapped resources are there to generate revenues from but we have either chosen to look the other way or being blind to reality.
The NCC should consider reversing this anti-people policy without further delay. They should rather go after the telecommunication sectors that make great deductions from subscribers over unsolicited services that subscribers are not even aware of and sanction them hugely to generate revenue. If there is constant electricity to use the Internet with; then any increment is understandable. The government should think of creating an enabling environment first before hiking anything. The hike in electricity tariff is yet to be justified. This one Nigerians can't just cope, we need sweet pills.
The onus is on Mr. President to summon those initiating these bad policies and call them to order because in the end they would have enriched themselves better and the integrity of Mr. President must have been tainted in the mud of history.
Initially it was increment in pump price of petrol without provision for economic respite, no salary increment of the workforce and no immediate social security programmes to cushion the effect of recession. Despite that Nigerians have continued to sacrifice more because they are optimistic that after a windy sand bubbles come a clearer atmosphere. People who initially believed that we got into this mess because of the recklessness and corruption of the past governments are to my surprise asking that the past government be restored to them at least to be able to buy petrol at N85 per litre and bag of rice at N8000. No matter how insensitive it may sound, it simply reflects the level of frustration that people have been perpetually conditioned to muster in.
As if the sufferings are not enough, the National Communications Commission is looking to increase data tariff on all communication networks starting from December 1st, 2016. This is outrightly insensitive and socio-economically disgusting. What the heck of revenue are they looking to generate from such tarriff hike? Is the NCC aware that many people save and deprive themselves to even buy N500 data to keep in touch with their families home and abroad for one form of assistance or the other? Is the NCC aware that the use of Internet is what has kept so many jobless youths engaged that they are not chasing politicians around in their babarigas to mob them? Is the NCC aware that some small scale businesses that are yearning to grow depend on the Internet for productivity? Is the NCC aware that for a country to be more productive, her citizens must be given low cost access to the Internet if not free? I have never seen any country that create burdens on her citizens like Nigeria. In the age of global technological advancement, we should be striving to be on the competitive edge with the rest of the world and not try to bring up policies that brings retrogression to us. As at today, despite the economic harsh conditions, well over 70% of Nigerians are Internet users. The low data users alone go for as much as 43%. The low data users subscribe to low data because they could not afford bigger data bundle. Now what happens if tariff is increased by 100%? It means that we would be left with 27% average users if not less. If there is any societal unrest this might cost, then it means people who are already used to Internet would look for money at all cost to buy data. This might lead to stealing, robbery, prostitution, brain drain and other sharp practices. Sometimes I wonder if our policy makers have got an empty shell in their medulla to consider the implications of a singular policy decision. It is not a rocket science, many learn one thing or the other on the internet. When they are not able to learn anymore, the next thing is for them to begin to constitute nuisance in the public. You can not create hardship for too long to get out of hardship. Many untapped resources are there to generate revenues from but we have either chosen to look the other way or being blind to reality.
The NCC should consider reversing this anti-people policy without further delay. They should rather go after the telecommunication sectors that make great deductions from subscribers over unsolicited services that subscribers are not even aware of and sanction them hugely to generate revenue. If there is constant electricity to use the Internet with; then any increment is understandable. The government should think of creating an enabling environment first before hiking anything. The hike in electricity tariff is yet to be justified. This one Nigerians can't just cope, we need sweet pills.
The onus is on Mr. President to summon those initiating these bad policies and call them to order because in the end they would have enriched themselves better and the integrity of Mr. President must have been tainted in the mud of history.
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