The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to streamline their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities.
The initiative is designed to ensure subscribers receive clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information regarding the cost of voice, SMS, and data services.
Issued on July 29, 2024, the directive, titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” requires Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a detailed table outlining the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.
This table must include all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, such as add-on details, prices, opt-in or opt-out procedures, renewal terms and conditions, and rollover policies.
The guideline results from consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.
The simplification guidelines aim to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness in promotional elements, protect consumers by providing clear and understandable tariff information, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardizing tariff structures.
Service providers must also display all relevant information about their tariffs, such as the plan name, price, validity period, price-per-second for on- or off-network and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
