Consumers’ parliament: Stakeholders decry QOS, others
Stakeholders at the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Telecom Consumers’ Parliament (TCP) have spoken against the quality of services and data being provided by the various networks.
They expressed their experiences across the various networks during the 81stTelecom Consumers’ Parliament organised by the NCC in Lagos;which was also in furtherance of celebrating 2017 as the year of telecom consumers.
For example,Miss Olabide Adeoye, an Airtel subscriber, questioned the rationale of the telco concentrating only in big cities and not effective in remote areas. She called for a reversal of the trend.
Also,Miss Asabi Adebowale, an MTN subscriber, complained the telco has not stopped in sending messages at will, deductions to her mobile phones, even when she declined such messages.
However, Mr. Shodipo Teniola, a 9mobile subscriber noted that even though the telco has good data plan, you can’t get access it in certain locations,especially when it rains.
Mr. Kehinde Oguntade, a Glo subscriber complained that the telco should improve on their service as one will have credit in the phone and they will tell you that you cannot make call.
Mr. David Ajose, an Ntel subscriber, lamented that apart the unlimited data from the company, the call services are poor as one cannot made calls or receive calls in some areas in Lagos not to talk of some states, because they are not everywhere.
Others were unanimous that the common tothe service providers were dropped calls; unsolicited messages, snail speed data, among others.
Earlier in his address, the Executive Vice Chairman NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, represented by Mr. Sunday Dare, Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management, NCC, informed the consumers that all NCC’s initiatives, such as SIM Card Registration, Mobile Number Portability, Broadband Policy implementation, development of 2442 and 622 short codes as well as various Consumers Awareness Campaigns were to ensure consumer satisfaction, protection and have proved to be successful.
Let me declare that throughout my tenure, I will always put the consumer at the head of my administration. I intend to be the consumer ‘Czar’ of the industry looking out for and protecting the interest of the consumer always without compromising the interests of other stakeholders in the industry.
This is because the consumer deserves all the credits for the past and indeed the future of successes of this industry,” he said.
On his part, the Director Consumer Affairs’ Bureau, NCC, Mr. Abdullahi Maikano disclosed the introduction of 2442 and 622 short codes has proved very effective to address consumers’ challenges, complaints with the various networks, while the TCP has proved also to be a veritable platform for alternative dispute resolution, and awareness education.
Maikano said that currently some members of the regulator from Uganda are understudying NCC on these initiatives in order to replicate same in their country.
