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Senate probes Pay-Tv providers over hike in tariff

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Senate probes Pay-Tv providers over hike in tariff

***Lawn sets up ad-hoc committee for the investigation

John Akubo

The senate on Wednesday setup an ad-hoc committee to carry out full scale investigation into incessant hike in tariffs by Pay-Tv providers.

The committee was mandated to carry out a comprehensive investigation by inviting the providers to come and explain reasons for the incessant hike.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, constituted the seven-man ad-hoc committee for the purpose
The lawmakers also directed all pay-tv service providers in Nigeria too immediatelày review their bouquet prices downwards in tandem with the prevailing reality of the economic situation in the country.

They also resolved to organize a public hearing for stakeholders to ventilate their positions on the issue.

The Senate, in its resolutions, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and the Nigerian Communications Commission to direct all pay-tv providers to introduce a pay-per-view model of subscription as against the month to month prepaid model presently in place.

The Senate President, while announcing the composition of the ad-hoc committee, tasked the panel to carry out a comprehensive investigation into how other countries are billed by pay-tv service providers.

The Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), was appointed by Senator Lawan to Chair the ad-hoc committee.
Members of the committee include Senators Sulaiman Abdu Kwari, Oluremi Tinubu, Yusuf A. Yusuf, Lekan Mustapha, Chukwuka Utazi, Akon Eyakenyi.

Earlier, the lawmakers in a motion kicked against the increase in tariffs by Multi-Choice Nigeria.
The motion titled, “Nigerians dumbfounded, outraged over Pay-Tv Tariff Hikes, demand for Pay-Per-View subscription model”, was sponsored by Patrick Abba Moro (Benue South).
The lawmaker noted with concern the uproar within the public over tariff hikes, price increases by Pay-tv service providers on their bouquets;

He stated that the leading pay-tv service provider in Nigeria, (MultiChoice Nigeria) informed all DStv compact subscribers on August, 22 2020, to expect a 13.3% price increase to N7,900 up from N6, 975 commencing from September 1, 2020.
Moro bemoaned the hike in subscription fee for DStv compact plus by 9.8 percent from N10,925 to N12,000, and DStv premium from N16, 200 to N18,400 indicating a 13.6% hike.

According to him, “MultiChoice Nigeria willfully and perpetually increases the cost of its bundles because there is no regulation whatsoever in the area of fixing rates.”

“Notes further that as usual, without recourse to the economic situation of the country MultiChoice has again raised the cost of its DStv and GOtv bundles stating them as follows, DStv Premium (#21,000), Compact+ (#14,250), Compact (#9, 000), Confam (#5, 300), Yanga (#2, 950), Padi (#2, 150), Business(#2, 669), Xtraview PVR access fee (2, 900).
“Those of GOtv are as follows; GOtv Max (4,150), GOtv Jolli (#2, 6669), GOtv Jinja (#1, 900), GOtv Lite (#900)”, he said.

The lawmaker expressed concern that thousands of pay-tv subscribers in Nigeria have bitterly reacted to the development on different social media platforms, ranging from deep shock to pure outrage with many asking the Nigerian government to checkmate the activities of pay-tv service providers in Nigeria especially in the area of fixing prices.

He added that among the bitter complaints of Nigerian subscribers of pay-tv services is the poor network service experienced as a result of bad weather/ epileptic electricity supply, which sometimes makes a whole month subscription wasteful without the subscriber watching anything before the expiration.

Moro said that Nigerians are demanding that, rather than paying fixed rates for packages monthly, pay-tv service providers should introduce a subscription model which allows subscribers pay per-view to enable them match their TV consumption to subscription as it is the case with electricity metering and mobile telephony.

He explained that the pay-per-view that Nigerian subscribers are demanding for, is a flexible model plan of subscription which allows subscribers of pay-tv to pay-per watch, to avoid Paying for services which they do not consume.

NEWS

No Place For Sharia Court In Ogun State, Says Gov Abiodun

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The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has issued a stern warning against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state without legal authorization.

This comes in response to the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of such a court.

In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun emphasized that Sharia Courts cannot be legally established by individuals or groups outside the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

READ MORE: Monarch Crisis: Ogun Court Strips Macgregor Of Olu of Orile Ilawo Title

He reaffirmed that the state government only recognizes courts constituted through the legal framework of the Constitution and state laws.

“No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State,” Abiodun stated. “The courts legally empowered to adjudicate disputes in the state are Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”

He further clarified that Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework in Ogun State and warned against the operation of unauthorized courts or assemblies.

According to the Governor, the state government respects the rights of individuals to practice their religion and apply their faith in personal matters.

However, this freedom does not extend to the creation of institutions or courts without proper legal backing.

Governor Abiodun directed all individuals involved in the creation or operation of the illegal Sharia Court to immediately cease all activities and disband the entity.

He also urged the public to disregard any summons, documents, or communications from the unauthorized court and to report such incidents to the authorities.

“The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the state, and prevent any breakdown of law and order,” the statement concluded.

 

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NEWS

JUST IN: Tinubu Returns To Abuja After Energy Summit In Tanzania

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I’m Working Tirelessly To Solve Nigeria’s Problems, Says Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The presidential aircraft, 001, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 7:40 pm on Tuesday, according to the State House media office.

The President was received by top government officials, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

READ ALSO: ‘I Can Only Be Removed At A National Convention – PDP’s Samuel Anyanwu Declares

The summit, organized by the Tanzanian government in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, centered on advancing “Mission 300,” an initiative designed to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

During the event, African leaders, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations discussed strategies to overcome the continent’s energy challenges.

Discussions focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and accelerating energy access in underserved regions, with an emphasis on mobilizing private sector investment.

On the opening day, ministers from participating nations presented their national energy strategies, known as compacts, which outlined their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.

The summit culminated in the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration by Heads of State, including President Tinubu, which charts a unified path for achieving the goals of Mission 300.

In his address, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s energy sector and emphasized the country’s commitment to universal energy access.

He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and detailed its strategy for integrated energy delivery across the continent.

“Nigeria remains committed to achieving universal access to energy and will continue to champion solutions that integrate renewable energy and enhance efficiency across Africa,” Tinubu said.

The President was accompanied by key members of his administration, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

 

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International News

Fire Breaks Out On Air Busan Plane In South Korea, One Injured

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An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.

A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.

SEE ALSO: South Korean Court To Decide Fate Of Detained President Yoon Suk Yeol

One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.

South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.

This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.

Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.

The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.

According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.

The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.

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