The Nigerian C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (NCC) has said the commission will continue to educate telecom consumers on their rights against the unwholesome practices of service providers. The Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr Abdullahi Maikano, said the commission is committed to the protection of consumer rights during the commission’s 92nd edition of Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) held in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
Maikano, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, said the event was designed to educate consumers and other stakeholders on contemporary issues generating interest in the telecommunications industry. Noting that consumer education will guarantee their protection against exploitation, the director said the forum would also serve as a feedback mechanism for the commission in making regulatory intervention for the benefit of the consumers, service providers as well as the industry.
“Consumer Education is identified by the commission as one of the most cost effective mechanism that provides and guarantees consumer protection. “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 put in place to inform, protect and educate consumers of their services,” he said.
The director urged participants to take advantage of the forum to be well informed so that service providers do not take undue advantage of them. He further said: “This event is one of the initiatives of Nigerian Communications Commission to bring together Telecom Consumers in the urban areas with the Network Operators and the Regulator (NCC) to discuss, proffer solutions to Consumer related issues and ensure they have value for money through effective service delivery.
“The forum seeks to educate Telecom Consumers and other Stakeholders on contemporary issues generating interest in the industry and also serves as a feedback mechanism for the Commission in making regulatory intervention for the benefit of the Consumers and the Service Providers as well as the industry as a whole. “At the Nigerian Communications Commission, the telecom Consumers are the target beneficiary of all our activities which make them enjoy primary focus in terms of ensuring that they get good quality of service, value for money spent, timely and fair redress of complaints and protection from unwholesome practices of some Service Providers.
“The Theme for discussion today is “Information & Education as a Catalyst for Consumer Protection” The topic is carefully chosen to reflect one of the cardinal objectives of the Nigerian Communications Commission of ensuring the protection of telecom consumers from market exploitation and empowering them to make rational and informed decision when making choices of services.
“Consumer education is identified by the Commission as one of the most cost effective mechanism that provides and guarantees consumer protection. Besides serving as a pro-active way of protecting consumers from making wrong choices, it also serves as a preventive measure that protect consumers from being exploited and against fraud. “To ensure that the telecoms consumer is well Protected, Informed and Educated (PIE mandate) 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 provide them with value for money.”
Also speaking, the deputy director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba who stated that the theme was titled: Information and Education as a Catalyst for Consumer Protection” said the consumer is a critical stakeholder in the telecoms industries. Stressing that the commission would not relent in advancing the course of consumers, he said, “I want to emphasize 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 appealed to all stakeholders to be responsive of all the complains raised by the consumer and urged participants to spread the messages and issues discussed to others who were not able to attend the programme. He said “It is my belief that consumers will seize this opportunity to participate freely & orderly. I will also like to inform you that the NCC declared 2017 as a Year of Telecom Consumer.
During the year of Telecom Consumer, the Commission stepped up programmes aimed at empowering and protecting Telecom Consumers with focus on key drivers such as, awareness on the 622 Toll Free Line to lodge complaints to NCC and the 2442 short code to stop unsolicited messages with great emphasis on Quality of Service improvement.
“Let me also add that apart from 622, the various other mediums where consumers can make enquires/lay complaints to NCC are: The Consumer Affairs Bureau Twitter Account (@ consumersncc). The consumer web portal (www.consumer.ncc.gov.ng ) and also feeback and complaints forms which are included inside the information kit provided (consumers should fill up the forms and return to registration d
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