TUESDAY March 4, 2025 |TheNewsDESK
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The House of Representatives has ordered Multichoice, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to suspend its planned subscription rate increase, citing the economic hardship currently affecting Nigerians, PlatinumPost reports.
Multichoice had recently announced a price adjustment set to take effect from March 1, 2025, with the DStv Premium package rising from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500, while Compact+ subscribers would now pay ₦30,000 instead of ₦25,000. The Compact bouquet was also set to increase from ₦17,000 to ₦19,000.
The House’s directive came after a motion was moved by Esosa Iyawe, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Edo State, during plenary on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Lawmakers argued that the steep price hikes would further burden Nigerians, many of whom are already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Iyawe said, “Multichoice recently announced a hike in subscription rates across all its packages, citing rising operational costs. However, this marks the second increase in less than a year, with the last adjustment made in May 2024.”
He noted that the previous hike triggered widespread public outrage, with many Nigerians, already grappling with economic challenges, abandoning their decoders due to a lack of competition in the pay-TV sector.
“Multichoice’s dominance in the market means any price increase has a widespread impact, putting consumers under undue financial pressure,” he added.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved that Multichoice should suspend the proposed hike pending a thorough investigation.
The lawmakers also mandated the Committee on Commerce to probe the recurring increases in subscription fees, to ensure cost-effective policies for Nigerian consumers.
The committee was given four weeks to submit its findings.
