The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed Multichoice Nigeria to suspend its proposed increase in DStv and GOtv subscription rates across the country, pending the outcome of a thorough investigation.
The House also mandated its Committee on Information to investigate the recurring increases in subscription fees by Multichoice, with the aim of ensuring the implementation of cost-effective policies in the pay-TV sector for Nigerian consumers.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance raised by Esosa Iyawe (APC, Edo), who called for an immediate suspension and investigation of the proposed price hike by Multichoice.
According to Iyawe, Multichoice, the owner of pay-TV services DStv and GOtv, recently announced an increase in the prices of all its packages in Nigeria, attributing the adjustment to prevailing economic conditions and rising operational costs.
He noted that the proposed 20%–25% hike in subscription fees would be the second such increase in less than a year, following a similar adjustment in May 2024. He recalled that the previous price hike sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians, already grappling with a high cost of living, abandoning their decoders in protest over the lack of competition in the pay-TV sector.
Expressing concern over the dominant position of Multichoice in Nigeria’s pay-TV market, Iyawe warned that its repeated price increases continue to have far-reaching consequences for consumers, placing them under unnecessary financial strain.
He further highlighted that the latest announcement of a subscription price hike has drawn widespread criticism from subscribers, many of whom have taken to social media to voice their frustration over frequent price adjustments.
Consumers have also raised concerns over the lack of corresponding improvements in service quality, as well as the government’s perceived indifference to the situation
