The South-West Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students has set MultiChoice Nigeria a seven-day deadline to rescind its planned increase in DSTV and GOTV subscription costs.
On Wednesday, the student association issued a statement signed by its Coordinator, Adejuwon Olatunji, Deputy Coordinator, Alao John, and Public Relations Officer, Opeoluwa Awoyinfa.
In text messages sent to subscribers, MultiChoice announced a 17% increase in pricing for its DSTV and GOTV bundles. It stated that the higher rates will go into effect on May 1, 2023, and that the reason for the rise was increased corporate operating costs.
However, in rejecting the subscription increase, NANS claimed that the South African corporation was causing hardship and extorting Nigerians without regard for their way of living.
“Today, we are aware that MultiChoice Digital Satellite has raised their tariffs without regard for Nigerians’ standard of living.” We have also waited a long time to see if this same corporation will dance to the tune of Nigerians who have been demanding pay as you view tariffs, but the opposite is true.
“Now is the time for the National Broadcasting Commission to return to the Commission Act to regulate the ownership, activities, and operations of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Providers.” Since its establishment in 1995, DSTV has been one of the main direct-to-home service providers in Nigeria, and it has also made a lot of money with over 25 million members, which is the largest market for its operations.
“We want the federal government to implement the pay-as-you-view system and to stampede their proposed tariff increase plan.” We are aware that DSTV has a pay-as-you-go tariff arrangement in some countries.”
The student body demanded that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), and the Minister of Communication “break the sporting right of MultiChoice” and provide an alternative service provider in the country so that “Nigerians can stop being exploited daily.”
“We hereby give seven days ultimatum to MultiChoice Digital Satellite Television to reverse their plan of increasing their tariffs and also yield to the call of Nigerians and also implement pay-as-you-view tariffs or else we shall be left with no other option than to lock up all offices of DSTV until our demands are met, which is the mind of all Nigerians,” NANS said.
