…kick against new DSTV price regime
Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed concerns over the non-challant attitude of transporters of petroleum products from Suleja Depots towards safety procedures.
The lawmakers expressed the concern during the debate on a motion sponsored by Muazu Lawal, who decried the recurring cases of fire outbreak at the Depot.
In his lead debate, Muazu who noted that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was transported by trucks from Lagos to Suleja Depot in 2008/2009 as strategic reserve when the depot was not functioning, lamented that petroleum products are being evacuated from the Depot without following safety procedures, thus making loading of trucks at restricted areas of the Depot dangerous.
“There was a fire incident at the depot as a result of illegal loading at restricted areas at odd hours, which caused the destruction of the Depot’s generator and tanker trucks.
“This illegal loading practice has negative effects on the nation’s economy as it reduces government revenues especially as the country is in recession.
“If this trend is not properly investigated and the perpetrators sanctioned, the practice may persist, thereby worsening the country’s economic situation,” he said.
To this end, the House mandated the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to investigate the matter and report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action.
Also during Wednesday plenary, the House resolved to probe the new price regime by Statelite Television company, MNET for its DSTV and GOTV subscribers.
To this end the House mandated the joint committees on Information and Culture, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to interface with Nigeria Communications Commissions (NCC) to conduct an inquiry into the planned subscription hike and report back within eight weeks for further legislative action.
The Joint Comittee which will also investigate the failure of MNET to adopt the “pay as you go”, option for Nigerian subscribers is to report back to the House in eight weeks for further legislative action.
The resolution of the House was subsequent to the adoption of a motion entitled: “Need to investigate the exorbitant charges and refusal of Multi-choice Satellite Television to adopt Pay-as-You-Go package option,” sponsored by Abbas Tajudeen.
In his lead debate, Tajudeen described as highly insensitive, the trend in which the prices of different bouquet Multichoice Satellite Television outlets have been increased in recent years.
He also condemned the refusal of the company to offer “pay- as- you- go” option on its digital satellite television, which he said is causing a financial strain on its subscribers.
According to him, it has been the practice for the company to increase the price of it’s various packages almost on a yearly basis.
“In 2013, the monthly subscription increased by seven to 10 percent in 2014 by 10 to 15 percent and in 2015 by 10 to 22 percent and just recenltly, the company sent a notification of another price increase with effect from May, 2017.
“DSTV does not have a pay- as- you- go plan like most similar communication companies around the world , thereby making its subscription plan to expire at the end of the monthly subscription period, whether or not the subscriber uses the services,” he said.
He argued that the regular increase in the prices of the various bouquet and MNET’s failure to adopt a “pay- as -you- go” payment option goes against globally acceptable fair business practice.
Tajudeen expressed concern on the seeming inability of the relevant regulatory agencies to police the industry.
The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun who presided over the plenary.
