Non-Implementation Of Pay As You-Go Tariff Plan: Reps Set To Query Satellite Service Providers

…Say Nigerians’Interest would be Protected

Chairman, House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the non-implementation of the pay-as-you-go package by satellite providers in the country, Hon. Unyime Idem, has assured Nigerians of justice to reverse the ugly trend.

Hon. Idem who gave this assurance on Tuesday while giving an update from the closed-door meeting held with Committee members at the National Assembly, Complex, Abuja shortly after the inauguration of the committee by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, represented by Hon. Peter Apatason, Deputy House Leader.

Hon. Nnyime Idem (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) who also doubles as Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Communication said that the matter before the committee affected vast majority of Nigerians.

“As chairman of this Ad-hoc Committee, I want to assure Nigerians that their interests will be protected.

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“When I moved the motion on the floor of the House, I stated that in the business of this nature, the customers should be given the right to choose what they want.

“We have interacted with Nigerians and what they want is pay-as-you-go, so that when they are out of their respective locations, their subscriptions can be there and they will make use of it when they return.

“We are here to defend our constituents who happen to be the consumers; based on the inauguration today, I can tell Nigerians that justice will be done at the end of the day,” he said.

Hon. Edem explained that the Committee was ready to step on toes in the bid to satisfy interests of over 100 million constituents who elected members of the House of Representatives based on courage and boldness and that would be brought to play,” he assured.

The lawmaker said all stakeholders including the regulators and service providers would be invited to deliberate on ways to open up the sector, adding that all the bottlenecks will be critically looked into with a view to liberalising it for more the benefits of interested Nigerians.

Earlier in his Inaugural address, Hon. Idem said “I am delighted to welcome you to this occasion of the inauguration of the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Non-implementation of Pay-as-you-go tariff plan by Broadcast Satellite Service Providers. Interestingly. other service providers notably: Mobile networks. Power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN) just to mention but a few. are striving to give Nigerians value for their money by rendering pay-as-you-go tariff plan.

“Nigerians must be at liberty to use or not to use any payment made and validly standing on their name from any service providers without a fixed time frame. The services rendered by foreign and local digital satellite service providers must be user friendly.

“Pursuant to this, the House of Representative in its wisdom on Tuesday 17th March. 2020 resolved to mandate this Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the matter and get back to the House with a report. This Ad-hoc Committee of seventeen Honorable Men since the day constituted has been committed to the House mandate before it and to the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House of Representatives. We have not wavered in the pursuit of the House mandate.

“It is true that this inauguration is taking place at this period of Iockdown in the country and the global circle. occasioned by Covid-19 that is ravaging humanity and the economy. To protect the citizens and the economy. underscores why it has to be now than later.

” We cannot afford to connive with fraud-stars and economic saboteurs who subtly defraud the country and the citizens by their-way of billing.

“Your Excellency. Rt. Hon. Speaker. your inauguration of this Ad-hoc Committee today has further reinvigorated the members for a ore pain staking research & investigation to unravel why the Multinational Digital Satellite Broadcast Organizations had not started pay-as-you-go billing and thus give Nigerians the value fbr their money.

“This Committee is seeing this mandate as a pure legislative intervention of the war against institutional corruption and exploitation of Nigerians and an uncommon way of actualizing the legislative Agenda of This House of Representatives.

“The Members of the Ad-hoc Committee. from their behavior and contributions in our earlier meetings have given me the impetus to assert that they are the round peg’for a round whole. It is going to be investigative. fact-finding and problem solving.

“We are not unmindfui of booby~traps, discouragements and allegations this investigative assignment may generate but be assured that we are géing to be above board.

“Members are determined to make individual and collective’research. compare and contrast jurisdiction these digital satellite televisions are operating and come out with our findings and recommendations”.

Hon. Idem used the forum to enjoin the leadership of the House for total support and protection as they embark on this investigative hearing.