The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), says it has began investigation into the conduct of dominant Pay-TV service providers for possible unfair price increases.
This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Babatunde Irukera.
The commission said the investigation was coming on the heels of complaints from Nigerians over the past 24 months.
He said the investigation was in pursuant to sections 17(b), (e), (g), (s),(x) (y), 18(3), 59, 61, 62, 69,70(1)(2), 72, 73,74, 108,109 and110 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).
The commission said the investigation would look into “unfair dealings, unreasonable and manifestly unjust contract terms, abuse of market power, computable pricing practises and other otherwise obnoxious or illegal conduct”.
The statement reads in part, “Over the past 24 months, the FCCPC had conducted an investigation, pursued legal action in court, secured an injunction pre-empting price increase, entered specific orders regarding providers engaged in periodic surveillance and monitoring and more recently inquired into a purported tax increase by at least one provider.”
Irukera said that the scope of the investigation would include questions about unfair dealings, unreasonable and unjust contract terms, abuse of market power, pricing practices and other illegal conducts.
He disclosed that the commission had over the past 24 months pursued legal action in court, secured an injunction preempting price increase, entered specific orders regarding a TV service provider.
The chief executive officer also noted that the commission had engaged in periodic surveillance and monitoring, and more recently inquired into a purported tax increase by at least one provider.
Irukera assured consumers that the commission would continue to pursue initiatives and efforts that would promote and ensure fairness to all.
