Reps order Multichoice to halt subscription hike

The CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Samson Adewale Adepoju, stated that the hikes are necessary to sustain service quality given the rising operational costs, including streaming platform fees and equipment maintenance.

The House of Representatives has called on Multichoice to suspend its proposed 20-25% price hike pending an exhaustive investigation by the Green Chamber.

In an urgent Motion of Public Importance, the House noted that the action of the company has sparked public outrage and forced many Nigerians to discontinue their subscriptions.

The motion was sponsored by Esosa Iyawe, a member from Edo State who expressed concerns over the timing and frequency of the price hikes.

According to Mr Iyawe, the most recent hike in subscription price announcements has triggered widespread criticism from subscribers, many of whom have expressed their frustration.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Information to investigate the price hikes and ensure the implementation of cost-effective policies in the pay-TV sector.

The committee is expected to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Reports say MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, introduced a price adjustment on its subscription packages from Saturday, March 1, 2025.

The move comes despite the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) cautioning against arbitrary price hikes.