NCC reiterates commitment to telecom consumer education
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment in educating and protecting the telecom consumer, stressing that the consumer is the king in the palace of market. It also said consumers in the telecom industry must be empowered and protected from exploitation. Speaking at the 91st Edition of Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) held in […]
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment in educating and protecting the telecom consumer, stressing that the consumer is the king in the palace of market. It also said consumers in the telecom industry must be empowered and protected from exploitation. Speaking at the 91st Edition of Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) held in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state on Thursday with the theme “Information and Education As a Catalyst for Consumer Protection”, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, represented by the Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alh Ismail Adedigba said the forum sought to educate telecom consumers, protect them from market exploitation as well as empower them to make rational and informed decision when making choices of services. He said: “The Nigerian Communications Commission as a regulatory agency develops various programmes to empower consumers.
One of such is the Consumer Outreach Programmes (COP). The program is a tripartite meeting between regulators operators and consumers to resolve pressing consumer’s issue as it relates to provision of telecom services. “The Commission stepped up programmes aimed at empowering and protecting telecom Consumers with focus on the key drivers such as awareness on 622 toll free line to lodge complains to NCC and the 2442 short code to stop unsolicited messages with great emphasis on Quality of Service improvement”, he said. He averred that the commission disseminates consumer education via outreach programmes, fact sheets; consumer web portal; and interaction via social media like twitter and Facebook.
He further highlighted service providers responsibilities to consumers to help them make informed decision on products and services as well as ensure that information provided to consumers is relevant, current, accurate and timely. In his opening remarks the Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, Abdullahi Maikano, represented by Alh Ismail Adedigba, Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, said the forum seeks to bring together telecom consumers with the Network Operators and the Regulator (NCC) to discuss and proffer solutions to consumer related issues and ensure they have value money through effective service delivery and it also serves as feedback mechanism for the commission in making regulatory interventions for the benefit of the consumers and service providers as well as the industry as a whole.
Adding that the forum seeks to educate telecom consumers about how best to make use of the telecommunication services for social, economic advantages and gains. He noted that the theme was carefully chosen to reflect one of the cardinal objectives of the commission of ensuring the protection of telecom consumers from market exploitation, he tasked telecom operators on giving correct, clear, complete, and accurate information to consumers in a language that would be understood. He also urged service providers to shun the habit of exploiting their customers in order to keep their business afloat