The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating DSTV and other Direct-To-Home Broadcast Satellite Service Providers in Nigeria today June 25, 2020, summoned the National Broadcasting Commission over the non-implementation of the Pay As You Go (PAYG). The Committee also insisted that the Pay As You Go Tariff is a must.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Chairman Communications Committee of the House, Rep Unyime Idem, expressed great displeasure over the unnecessary exploitation of Nigerians by the Service Providers. He informed the National Broadcasting Commission NBC) that the implementation of a PAYG Tariff is non-negotiable as Nigerians must get value for their money. He maintained that NBC must immediately commence modalities to implement Pay As You Go (PAYG) Tariff by engaging the affected Service providers to fashion out implementation modalities.
Other members of the Committee aligned their thoughts with that of the Chairman by reiterating that the Committee must deliver on its mandate and as such, the implementation of PAYG tariff remains non-negotiable. They also asked the Commission to outline challenges that may impede smooth implementation of the PAYG.
The Lawmakers also inquired on the status of the frequency 470MHz to 694MHz in the custody of the Commission for the deployment of TV whitespace, Synopsis on the Digital Switch Over (DSO) and the milestone achieved so far and how they intend to integrate the existing providers like Star Times and GOTV into the Single Frequency Network.
On its part, the Acting Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba who led key management Staff of the Commission to the Panel, said there are some challenges to the smooth implementation of the PAYG. Some of the challenges according to Prof Idachaba includes the fact that the Act establishing the Commission does not empower it to regulate prizes of the service providers and the cost of Broadcast content shared between different Providers, infrastructure and the funds to effect Digital Switch Over. He however, sought the help of the Lawmakers to amend relevant portions of the enabling Act to grant the Commission powers to regulate prizes and other activities of the Service Providers.
Responding, Rep Idem informed the Commission that he has already sponsored a Bill which has scaled through first reading, to amend relevant portions of the NBC Act and that when passed into law, the amended Act will accommodate the challenges outlined by Prof. Idachaba.
Recall that Rep Unyime Idem had on March 7, 2020 sponsor a Motion of Urgent Public Importance on “The Need for DSTV and other Direct-To-Home Broadcast Satellite Service Providers in Nigeria to end the unnecessary exploitation of Nigerians by running a Pay As You Go Tarrif”, which led to the Constitution of the Ad-hoc Committee by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.