Senate holds public hearing on Sen Abba Moro’s motion on pay TV tariff hike

By Samson Otokpa | September 22, 2022

The Senate adhoc Committee on Pay-Tv tariff hikes, on Thursday, held a Public Hearing on Pay-Tv tariff hikes and demand for Pay-Per-View Subscription Model, to get feedbacks from stakeholders and Nigerians on the Motion.

Distinguished Senator Abba Moro had moved the Motion titled, HIKED TARIFF; NIGERIANS DUMBFOUNDED AND OUTRAGED OVER PAY-TV TARIFF HIKES, DEMANDS FOR PAY-PER-VIEW SUBSCRIPTION MODEL, on 30th March, 2022, seeking to compel Pay-Tv service providers to introduce a Pay-Per-View model of subscription as against the month-to-month prepaid currently in place. The Senate set up an adhoc Committee, headed by Senator (Dr) Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi, to further investigate the incessant increase in fees by the Pay-Tv providers with a view to finding lasting solution to it.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdullahi, said the public hearing was organized to get the views and thoughts of stakeholders and the general public on the burning issue. He commended Senator Moro for the Motion and said the Committee would do a thorough job.

In his address, the Mover of the Motion, Senator Abba Moro, said the Motion was necessitated by the cry and complaints of his Constituents and Nigerians over the arbitrary increase in tariff prices by Pay-Tv service providers without recourse to prevailing circumstances of the country. Senator Moro said it was pertinent and very important that the service providers review their tariff prices downward, reduce the frequency of their tariff hikes and employ the Pay-Per-View model so that subscribers don’t pay for what they don’t use. He appealed to the stakeholders present to look beyond ‘profit’ and support the Motion, stating that if service providers in the telecommunication and electricity sectors that are using Pay-As-You-Use policy are making profit, there’s no how the Pay-TV service providers won’t make profits if they adopt the Pay-Per-View model.

Members of the Committee and many stakeholders who submitted memoranda to the committee spoke in favor of the motion, they stressed the need for Pay-Tv service providers to embrace the Pay-Per-View model and reduce the incessant tariff hikes in the country.

In his closing remarks, the Chairman, Senator Abdullahi, thanked everyone for taking out time to attend the Public Hearing and make meaningful contributions. He said a final report of the various submissions would be presented to the Senate for further actions.