Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has parleyed with the consumers of telecom services in Anambra State to improve quality services in the state.
This is because they are the most important in the services’ value chain, a top official of the NCC says.
Head, information and reference of Consumer Affairs Bureau (NCC), Ismail Adedigba, said this at a tripartite meeting involving mobile telecoms service providers at Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra on Friday.
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.
Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, who was represented by the Head, Public Relations (NCC), Reuben Muoka 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, 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 is: “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.
