CPC launches telecom subscribers’ right compendium

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, who launched the compendium in Abuja on Monday at the Consumer Roundtable on Phone Rights put together by the CPC, warned operators to play by the rules in line with CPC’s crusade, saying, “the CPC is an agency that can bark and bite.”
She said there is need for the NCC to strengthen its collaboration with the CPC to address subscribers’ complaints bordering on poor telecoms service delivery.  
 Speaking during the event, the Director-General, CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said,  “like most interventions and innovations that have such an immense bearing on the general populace, abuses are prevalent. Such abuses remain unabated if the consumers of these products or services know little or nothing about their rights in this regard. On the other hand, the conglomerates that provide these products or services benefit from the apathy of the uninformed consumers.
Atoki added that “these rights come under segments such as poor network, unsolicited services, unlawful deductions/non-transparent billing, exploitative automated services, unauthorised SIM swaps/line disconnection, poor internet services and poor customer service.
  “The Compendium of the Rights of Telecoms Subscribers in Nigeria was developed by the CPC and is being launched as part of the commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day. The consumer can take the compendium, which is very simple and concise, to the relevant operators and say this is my right. The initiative is one step for us in our advocacy platform for public enlightenment in Nigeria.”
 In his address, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, commended the CPC for its renewed efforts towards protecting consumers’ rights.
“I want to commend the efforts of the new leadership of the CPC, led by Mrs. Dupe Atoki, for its renewed tenacity at ensuring that the rights of Nigerian consumers are respected in all ramifications,” Ortom said.  
 The Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Rep. Sylvester Ogbaga, said that owing to the barrage of consumer complaints against telecoms operators, there was the need for severe sanctions against erring operators in order to restore consumers’ confidence in the sector.