L-R: Osinachi Buchi-Chukwu, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, NCC; Ismail Adedigba, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC; Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC; Tonia Shoyele, Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Amaka Agwaniru, Principal Manager, Public Affairs, NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has read the riot act to telecom service providers in the country, insisting that they have to do everything possible to improve service delivery to the consumers on their various networks or face regulatory sanctions.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, handed down the warning on Friday September 27, 2019, in a remark that signalled the commencement of the NCC Day at the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair.
The EVC, who was represented at the trade fair by Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), NCC, said though the Commission recognises the existence of some challenges confronting the industry, operators are expected to strive to always improve service for the over 175 million subscribers in the country.
“Where a service provider continues to fail to improve services to the detriment of the consumers, the Commission will apply appropriate regulatory actions and sanctions against such service provider,” Danbatta added.
Danbatta also affirmed that “in the course of regulating the industry, the NCC had always recognised the importance of the consumer in the telecom sector and the fact that consumers deserve to have value for the money spent on telecoms services. ”
According to the EVC, the empowerment and protection of the consumer from unfair practices of service providers and others is a central item on the 8-Point Agenda. He stressed that the NCC Day at trade fairs further demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to the consumer because NCC uses the fairs to further engage the consumers on their rights and privileges as well as their obligations.
The NCC Chief Executive informed the consumers to always call the NCC toll-free number 622 to lodge unresolved or unsafisfactorily-resolved complaints earlier reported to their respective service providers, so that NCC can institute necessary intervention on their behalf for redress.
Danbatta also encouraged consumers to make use of the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 Short Code to control unsolicited text messages instead of just complaining about unsolicited messages.
He advised that instead of just complaining it is more profitable that consumers take advantage of the facilities and channels of redress provided by NCC to tackle the challenges of telecom services.
Danbatta also praised telecom consumers for their patronage and urged all citizens to support the Commission in its desire to address the challenges of telecommunication, expand telecom services and increase the sector’s contribution to the Nation’s economy
