Business
CONSUMERS of telecom services are kings who must be well treated at all times. This was the message of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, which insists that consumers must get value for their money.
Ismail Adedigba, head, Information and Reference Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, said this at a tripartite meeting involving mobile telecoms service providers.
These are the NCC and telecom providers – Airtel, MTN, Globacom, 9 Mobile and N-Tel and the users.
Adedigba explained that 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.
He noted that 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),” Adegbite said.
Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, who was represented by Reuben Muoka, the head, Public Relations, NCC, 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 such a forum for telecom consumers as ‘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.
The event which was held on July 5 at the Blitz Place, Awada Obosi was the 96th edition of NCC Consumer Outreach Programme.
The theme was: “Using Information and Education as Tools for Consumer Empowerment and Protection.”
There was an interactive session, where service providers spoke on how they provided services for their consumers such as Working Centres, Walk-In stores, VAS queries, Mobile Point of Sell, Dealer Channels and Mobile Apps.
– July 6, 2018 @ 18:35 GMT |
Tags: Consumers are kings says NCC
