The Nigerian Communications Commission has said it will not
tolerate telecoms service providers treat consumers with levity.
The commission says consumers remained kings as far as the
business of telecommunications was concerned, and that it was primarily established
to ensure that consumers received value for money.
Mr Ismail Adedigba, head, Information and Reference Consumer
Affairs Bureau of NCC stated this while speaking on Sunday at the 96th edition of NCC Consumer Outreach Programme, with the
theme: 'Using Information and Education as Tools for Consumer Empowerment
and Protection'.
He said the meeting was to ascertain major complaints from
mobile telecom users, against service providers, so as to properly educate them
on how to seek redress, while also speaking to the service providers on the
dangers of not complying with consumers requests.
Adedigba who was addressing issues relating to receipt of
unsolicited text messages by consumers said the NCC has dedicated numbers which
if activated can stop all unwanted text messages to consumers, and that the
service providers were obligated to honour such requests without delay.
He said the tripartite meeting involving mobile telecoms
service providers, consumers and the commission was aimed at ensuring that the
kingship of the consumers was stressed.
Adedigba explained that service providers existed solely
because of the consumers, and therefore, the consumers should be accorded rights
to information, education, fair hearing, choice and safety.
"We are here to provide complaints desks so that
consumers can resolve issues with their service providers such as unsolicited
SMS, automated renewal of data, without prior knowledge of the user and
rollover of unfinished data.
"These complaints can be regulated by NCC when consumers
call the 622 toll-free line or text `STOP’ to 2442 (the Do-Not-Disturb ‘DND’
short code for unsolicited SMS),” Adedigba said.
Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mrs Felicia
Onwuegbuchulam who was represented by the Head, Public Relations (NCC), Reuben
Muoka urged mobile telecom users to utilise toll-free lines and Customer Care
Centres of NCC to relay complaints taken to service providers but yet-to-be
resolved.
Onwuegbuchulam said that consumers were target beneficiaries
and should be protected from untoward issues from providers.
"They have to be protected from wrong choices and
exploitations and informed of their rights.
"These rights include being properly informed and
educated, right to take decisions, correct information with understandable
language that is relevant, current and timely,’’ she said.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C.
Don Adinuba, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor on Broadcast Media, Mrs Ifunanya Abass commended NCC for organising a
forum for telecom consumers, saying; ‘information is key’.
Adinuba promised synergy with NCC through the provision of
media platforms in Anambra to readily inform users on how to demand for
services.
"Mobile users are not properly educated on how to
relate with service providers. With this kind of forum, they can take charge,’’
he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment