The use of mobile phone is common among Nigerians and what is also common in the nation’s telecommunication industry is not the undying Poor service quality but virtually every subscriber has fallen for the common ‘unwholesome practices’ from the service providers.
It is a common cliche to hear “they are all the same” among telecos subscribers referring to the shabby services the four major operators of MTN, Etisalat Airtel and Glo offer them including ntel the owner of NITEL.
One of the unwholesome practices of service providers, the subscribers are praying the industry regulators, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should act on has been linked to the retail and enterprise data offerings from the operators.
“I have moved from Etisalat, to MTN, Airtel and now on Glo, i can tell you that they are all the same. Nigerians are paying so much for little. NCC please don’t say you cannot interfere on pricing… to make things worse they will deplete your MegaByte with your hard earned money.
“Is it too much if NCC come up with a policy that will improve on the data offerings from these operators because subscribers lose lots of data balance with expiration of date date practices among the operators for both retailers and enterprises services?,” a mobile phone user, Seun Arogundade told our correspondent in a chat in Lagos.
The subscriber called for quick intervention to ensure the protection of consumers of telecommunications services from the data unwholesome practices by service providers.This was buttress by Mr Ndifreke Umanah (a subscriber) who spoke at the 92nd edition of Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) organised by NCC on Thursday.
“As a way of intervention stakeholders should pray on NCC to formulate policy that will improve data offerings and other related services, Umanah said, adding that ” please let consumers exhaust their data, the expiration date term and condition is a factor that have availed operators to mob up from their subscribers.”
Meanwhile, according to the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, consumer education is key for the sector to grow, he stated that all efforts are on desk to build a knowledge driven telecommunication sector for the country.
He said, “to ensure that telecom consumer is well protected, informed and educated, the commission has developed series of initiatives with the main goal of empowering consumers with appropriate information.
“That will ensure that their rights are not only protected but their choices also provide them with value for money. Consumer education is identified by the commission as one of the most cost effective mechanisms that provides and guarantees consumer protection.
Represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mr Abdullahi Maikano, and Deputy, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, in Ikot Ekpene on Thursday, said the COP sought to educate consumers and other stakeholders on contemporary issues generating interest in the telecommunications industry.
He said the programme served as a feedback mechanism for the commission in making regulatory intervention for the benefit of the consumers, service providers as well as the industry.
“Besides serving as a proactive way of protecting consumers from making wrong choices, it also serves as a preventive measure that protects consumers from being exploited and against fraud. It is my hope that each of the service providers, present here today, will demonstrate clearly to our esteemed consumers of telecom services the various initiatives by the commission.
‘’The initiatives are put in place to inform, protect and educate consumers of their services,” Maikano said. The director urged participants to take advantage of COP to be well informed so that service providers do not take undue advantage of them.’’
Earlier, Adedigba said the objectives of the commission’s outreach programmes were aimed at empowering and protecting consumers. He said NCC considered the consumer as a critical stakeholder in the telecoms industry, stressing that it would not relent in ensuring that their rights were protected.
“I want to emphasise that focus on consumer did not end with 2017 as year of telecom consumers.
“In fact, it has just begun as the commission is not in any way winding down on our avowed commitment to serve the consumer better in all fronts,” he said.
According to him, the theme, “Information and Education as a Catalyst for Consumer Protection”, is to educate consumers to stand up for their rights.
The deputy director appealed to stakeholders to be responsive to all the complaints raised by the consumers. He also urged participants to spread the messages and issues discussed to others who were not able to attend the programme.
