MTN which is the leading mobile network service provider has begged the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to accept installment payment of the N1.04 trillion fine it slammed on the company for failing to deactivate unregistered SIM cards. MTN made the plea on Friday before the Monday, 16th November deadline set by the commission for the payment of the fine.
The high government officials had a meeting with the officials of MTN on Friday and the request was made during the meeting. According to an undisclosed source, it is likely that the government may listen to the plea of MTN.
It could be recalled that the MTN appointed a new managing director to man the company for some months following the resignation of its previous manage.
Chris Maroleng, the MTN spokesman said that the company was waiting for the government to get back to them.
MTN was fined N200,000 for any registered SIM card found in its database and the total amount was N1.04 trillion. NCC has insisted that the fine would not be reduced. Given the communication regulatory body has paid deaf ear to MTN’s pleas for the reduction of the fine, MTN has accepted its fate. But the telecom giant is now begging the commission to accept installment payment.
The fine has attracted a lot of comments among Nigerians. Some people are happy with the fine lauding NCC for meaning business. But there are other Nigerians that are not happy with the fine. Some of these people are of the opinion that the fine is too much and may inhibit investors from coming to Nigeria.
A source familiar with the case said that it was still possible for the fine to be reduced. According to him, the case can be maneuvered since no final statement has been released on it. But spokesmen of the company and government have refuted the statement saying that the fine cannot be reduced.
