In response to the recent announcement of tariff increases on mobile money transfer services, the Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Bah Esq., has expressed the government’s commitment to bolster mobile banking and mobile money services in a bid to promote financial inclusion.

The goal is to make financial services more accessible, even in the face of rising call and data tariffs.

Minister Salima Bah underscored the government’s intention to collaborate closely with telecom providers to ensure that any tariff hikes are fair and reasonable, considering the economic conditions and the affordability of mobile services for the public.

The technologically adept and legally proficient Minister emphasized her plans to engage in constructive dialogues with telecom companies, aiming to strike a balance between the industry’s requirements and the needs of consumers. She stated, “My Ministry’s focus will be on mitigating the adverse effects of increased mobile phone tariffs, ensuring that essential communication and digital services remain within reach of the general population.”

Salima Bah’s mandate extends to fostering competition within the telecom sector to help regulate prices, enhance telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and ultimately reduce the cost of service provision while expanding access.

Meanwhile, mobile network operators have presented various justifications for their tariff increases, citing rising operational costs, infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, network expansion expenses, technology upgrades, and compliance with government regulations like the Finance Act.

However, the Minister emphasized that while telecom companies may provide valid reasons for tariff increases and the necessity for their sustainability, they should not shift the burden of government taxes, levies, and regulatory fees onto consumers.

In her closing statement, she declared, “We will collaborate with all stakeholders, including the regulatory authority, NaTCA, to scrutinize these tariff adjustments and ensure they are both reasonable and justifiable, striking a harmonious balance between the interests of operators and consumers.”