The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step to address growing concerns over DSTV’s billing system in the country. During a plenary session on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio highlighted a significant disparity in how the service operates in Nigeria versus South Africa. He pointed out that subscribers in Nigeria lose their subscription days even when they are not using the service, which he described as unfair.
Akpabio noted that in South Africa, if a customer travels for an extended period, their subscription remains intact until they return and reactivate it. However, in Nigeria, the same benefit does not apply. Subscribers find their paid days consumed regardless of whether they are using the service or not. This practice, he argued, places an undue burden on Nigerian families who often travel for holidays and return to find their subscriptions exhausted.
Drawing a parallel to electricity billing, Akpabio expressed frustration that consumers are charged for power they do not utilize. He mentioned communities where transformers have been non-functional for months, yet residents continue to receive monthly bills. This comparison underscores a broader issue of consumers being made to pay for services they are not receiving.
In response to these concerns, Akpabio directed the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications to summon DSTV for an explanation. He made it clear that Nigerians should not be compelled to pay for services that are not being rendered. The move aims to ensure that DSTV aligns its billing practices with those in its home country, where customers are treated more fairly.