Multichoice Limited, the operators of DSTV Nigeria have been handed down a marching order by the House of Representatives to implement the Pay As You Go (PAYG) Tarrif in Nigeria and to reverse its recent price hike.

This was contained in a resolution laid down by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the non-implementation of Pay As You Go (PAYG) Tarriff led by Senator Unyime Idem on October 12, 2020.

Multichoice’s DSTV which made its first appearance before the Committee after the Committee was inaugurated by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, to explain what the House terms “unnecessary exploitation of Nigerians” in their (DSTV’s) unwillingness to implement a Pay As You Go Tarrif was led by the Managing Director, John Ugbe.

Senator Idem who said there is a clarion call by Nigerians and stakeholders within the broadcast industry for a change in the price regime of all Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) and Direct-To-Home (DTH) providers from the present one bundle system to pay-as-you–go/pay-per-view/pay-per-watch that is daily, weekly or monthly mandated the CEO of the Company, John Ugbe to meet with the Board of Directors, develop a blueprint for the implementation and get back to the Ad-Hoc Committee within the shortest possible time.

He reiterated that the Committee will only and always work in the interest of Nigerians and that Pay As You Go for Nigerians is non-negotiable.

Idem, who Represents Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency lamented that while Members of the National Assembly and other highly placed Nigerians can afford to pay for the services of DSTV at any rate, it will be the height of insensitivity to allow majority of Nigerians who are still struggling to meet up with the demands of their daily living to be subjected to such treatment by any Organisation.

He berated the Managing Director of the Company for superintending over such exploitation of Nigerians as a Nigerian.

“It is in this vein that we have to listen to the plight of Nigerians by living up to our constitutional responsibilities as stipulated in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended for the full implementation of Pay-As-You-Go model across Nigeria”

“We are also of the opinion that MultiChoice, the owners of DSTV is not sensitive to the plight of Nigerians at large for increasing the tariff of their various bouquet and anchoring that on VAT increment from 5% to 7.5% where in the real sense most of its bouquet price tariff is more than the 2.5% increment, unlike many other companies both local and international that are providing palliative measures to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”

Responding, Mr John Ugbe who unsuccessfully could not justify the price hike and the non-implementation of PAYG promised to meet with the Board of Directors of the Company and report to the Committee as soon as possible.

Rep Idem while letting down the resolution after a voice vote by Members of the Committee said the mandate of the committee is simple; the full implementation of the Pay-As-You-Go/Pay per View/pay per watch model in Nigeria