Consistent with its faith in the place of the consumer as the most
central stakeholder in the telecom ecosystem, the Nigerian
Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday organised the 28th edition of
the Consumer Townhall Meeting (CTM) in Eket, Akwa Ibom State in
furtherance of its commitment to engage the telecom consumer
irrespective of his or her geographical location.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta speaking
through the Director Consumer Affairs, Abdullahi Maikano, said NCC’s
determination to empower the telecom consumer through information
sharing, education and dialogue explains “the introduction of outreach
programmes such as the CTM, Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) and the
Consumer Outreach Programme (COP); as well as the launch of a dedicated
Consumer Web Portal; the Consumer Affairs Bureau Twitter account; and
the robust, consistent interaction with the consumer through the
Commission’s social media assets which include Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and LinkedIn.”
Danbatta said the rights of the Consumer to receive from his service
providers, accurate, relevant and timely information in a clear and
simple language is inviolable.
He noted that the NCC has also demonstrated its obligations to the
Consumer through the outlined consumer-centric programmes listed above
to underscore the importance of the consumer.
One of Maikano’s deputies who spoke in his stead in an Opening
Remark, Ismail Adedigba, urged the spectrum of stakeholders present at
the Meeting to use the opportunity of the platform and the presence of
the Telecom Service Providers to participate in the discussions frankly
but orderly towards steering the right course for the resolution of
complaints they wish to bring to the attention of their service
providers.
Adedigba reminded everyone present of the declaration of 2017 as Year
of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer by the Management of the Commission as
a clear demonstration of NCC’s concern to address the challenges
telecom consumers face.
He emphasized the need for consumers to activate the Do Not Disturb
Code 2442 to stop incessant unsolicited messages they receive on their
mobile phones. He also advised consumers to always reach the Commission
through the Toll Free Line – 622 to lodge further complaints on issues
they had earlier reported to their service providers but which are not
resolved satisfactorily.
