The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has once again re-emphasized its unflinching commitment to the protection of telecom consumers from unwholesome practices by service providers.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the commission made the commitment at the 45th edition of the consumer town hall meeting in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Thursday, following report that the commission may soon decommission some value-added service (VAS) platforms and services over illegal deductions.
While delivering the opening remark at the town hall meeting, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Chairman, NCC Governing Board, represented by Bashir A. Idris, Head, Government and Legislative Relations, Public Affairs Department stated that the theme, “Using Information and Education As Tools For Consumer Empowerment And Protection” has been carefully chosen
He said the theme reflect one of the cardinal objectives of the NCC of ensuring consumer empowerment through provision of necessary information and education to consumers.
“Through empowerment and education, telecom consumers are fortified with necessary tools to be protected from market exploitation; and to make rational and informed decision when making choices of services,” he said.
NCC’s Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, during his welcome address declared that NCC, “as a Telecom Regulatory Agency is poised to empower telecom consumers with adequate information and education through constant engagement of consumers at various levels across the country.
Adedigba stressed that “the programme is to enable a tripartite meeting of the Regulators, Operators and Consumers with a view to enlightening telecom consumers and resolve pressing consumer issues with respect to provision of telecom services”.
He further stated that, “it is through empowerment and education that telecom consumers are fortified with necessary tools to be protected from market exploitation; and to make rational and informed decisions when making choice of services as information is power”.
Hafsat Lawal, Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Bureau emphasized some of the initiatives put in place by NCC for telecom consumer empowerment such as NCC’S Toll Free Number- 622 and, Do not Disturb – 2442 Code.
She also urged consumers to report cases of call masking to the commission.