By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
AMID RISING concerns over recurring price hikes, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to suspend any subscription price increases until an ongoing investigation into its proposed tariff adjustment is concluded.
The directive comes after MultiChoice Nigeria sought an extension for its scheduled appearance before the regulatory body.
Although the FCCPC granted the extension, it has now set March 6, 2025, as the new date for the investigative hearing.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, alongside other relevant officers, is required to present a comprehensive response to the commission’s inquiry.
In an official statement released on Thursday by FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the agency made it clear that MultiChoice must maintain its current pricing structure as of February 27, 2025, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The regulatory body emphasised that the measure aims to prevent consumer exploitation while ensuring transparency in the pricing review process.
FCCPC had previously summoned MultiChoice’s CEO for an investigative hearing scheduled for February 27, 2025.
However, the company requested additional time to prepare its response.
In light of this, the commission granted the postponement but reinforced that MultiChoice must comply with its directive to hold off on any price adjustments.
This development follows MultiChoice’s announcement on Monday regarding an impending price review.
The company informed its subscribers that a new pricing structure for DStv and GOtv packages would take effect from March 1, 2025.
In its notification titled “Price Adjustments for DStv and GOtv Packages,” MultiChoice justified the changes by citing the need to continue delivering high-quality content.
Under the proposed adjustment, the price of the DStv Compact package would be increased, while the Compact Plus and Premium bouquets would remain at N30,000 and N44,500, respectively.
The planned hike has sparked public outcry, with many customers expressing concerns over affordability and the frequency of price increases.
The FCCPC’s intervention is part of its mandate to regulate fair market practices and protect consumer rights.
The commission reiterated that no company should unilaterally alter pricing structures in a manner that could undermine fair competition or burden subscribers without a transparent review process.
It also says that with the investigative hearing set to take place on March 6, 2025, the FCCPC has assured the public that it will closely scrutinise MultiChoice’s pricing policies and determine whether the proposed tariff adjustments align with consumer protection laws.
