The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that no fewer than eight million telecom consumers now have access to Do-Not-Disturb code (2442) as against one million subscribers as at December 2016. The commission said that the rise was sequel to its various consumer enlightenment campaigns, which according to it, had started yielding dividends. The Director of Public of Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo made the disclosure at the 35th edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM) held at Obollo-Afor, Udenu local government headquarters of Enugu state. Ojobo, who was represented by the Head of Public Relations of NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, said the Commission is one government agency that not only thinks about the consumer but interacts with them with a view to getting valuable feedback which forms part of input in regulations the governs the industry.
“The return has been very huge in terms of the way people attend and want to listen to what we are saying…We are talking about unsolicited messages which as at December 2016, we have one million subscribing to it, but today we have eight million. “The kind of questions we get in this kind of event has reduced; there used to be huge line of people with different complaints, but by few questions asked you will know that our objective of sending information out, interacting with consumers on how to better their services is being received.
“NCC is making an impact as one government agency that thinks about the consumer, not just thinking about the consumer in its regulation but gout out to the field to take a feel of the consumer, to listen to experience of the consumer with which they articulate the regulations on how to better the industry,” he said.
The Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau in the Commission, Mr. Abdullahi Maikano, who was represented by Ismail Adedigba, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, said the event was a tripartite meeting between regulators, operators and consumers to resolve pressing consumer’s issues as it relates to provision of telecom services.
According to him, the programme was designed to educate consumer of telecom services on their basic rights and privileges as well as creating awareness on various issues relating to provision and usage of telecom services.
The chairman of Udenu local government local divestment area, Mr. Frank Ugwu, expressed happiness that the enlightenment campaign took place at his council and urged residents to take advantage of the programme to ask questions bothering them.
