Net Work Provider, MTN must pay N1.4tn fine in full – Reps

Net Work Provider, MTN must pay N1.4tn fine in full – Reps

Posted by Sylvester on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 0

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The House of Representatives said on Wednesday that the N1.4trillion fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communications Commission “must” be fully paid as against the N780billion the Federal Government negotiated with the telecommunications service provider.

The House also expressed unhappiness over the role played by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, in the negotiations leading to a reduction in the $5.2billion fine.

Its Committee on Telecommunications said at a meeting with the Minister of Communication, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, and top officials of NCC in Abuja that Malami usurped the powers of the NCC.


The development came as the House ordered an investigation into the alleged non-remittance of levies and surcharges by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, totalling $10bn.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Sajeed Fijabi, noted that the NCC, being the government approved regulator, should have led the negotiations and not the AGF.

The NCC had slammed the fine on MTN for failing to suspend unregistered subscribers from its network.

Fijabi said, “There is nowhere in the law that said there is room for reduction.

“If you are reducing this now, what happens to Globacom and others? I see MTN going to court every time as a way to circumvent the law. In the US, British Petroleum paid its full fine for oil spills.”

He said there was clear evidence that the NCC had been put under pressure to develop cold feet on insisting that the fine should be paid in full.

“Somebody is not allowing you to handle this matter the way you should. After you have imposed the fine, somebody negotiated and reduced it.

“You imposed the fine, you should take the lead on the negotiations, but now you are being sidelined. You gave them N1.4tn fine, and we at the National Assembly have already projected that amount as part of FG revenue.”