The Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Mustapha, has lauded the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on a range of its telecom consumer protection initiatives.
He also applauded the Commission over the Village Square Dialogue (VSD) in Yola, Adamawa State at the weekend.
Kakakin Adamawa, Professor Abubakar Tahir, spoke on behalf of the Lamido Adamawa at the Consumer Conversation programme of the Commission.
As contained in a statement by NCC Director, Public Affairs, Rueben Muoka, the programme had the theme: “Know Your Rights as Telecom Consumers”.
Lamido Adamawa said the event was a privilege for individual telecom consumers and businesses in the state to ask questions and get face-to-face response from the regulator on telecom-related issues.
“We must commend the NCC for the great work it has been doing in the area of consumer education and enlightenment.
“Aside from being the regulator of the sector, the NCC leadership has taken the issue of consumer information very central.
“We thank you for bringing this laudable initiative to the good people of Adamawa,” the Lamido Adamawa said.
The royal father advised NCC to also consider exploring other areas that can lead to further reduction in the cost of telecom services.
The Lamido Adamawa further urged the Commission to also ensure that services are available in most parts of the country.
“The Commission should kindly look inwards and ensure that all communities in the country continue to enjoy cheaper, better, qualitative and more accessible telecommunications services,” he said.
NCC’s Director of Consumer Affairs, Alkasim Umar, represented the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, at the event
He said the regulator has always been at the forefront of ensuring maximum protection for telecom consumers.
He said it is also providing the enabling environment for the licensed service providers to be able to provide good quality of service to the consumers.
“The NCC remains committed to its mandate of protecting, informing and educating consumers of telecoms services across all the 36 states of the federation, including FCT.
“This essence of the Village Square Dialogue, as one of our outreach events, is to provide a face-to-face interaction among the NCC, the service providers and the consumers,” Umar said.
Speaking on some of the consumer-centric initiatives of the Commission, Umar said the Commission recently introduced the harmonised shortcodes.
The shortcodes, he said, provided uniform codes for telecom consumers to access any consumer service type across all networks.
The shortcodes, he added, are for airtime loading, checking airtime balance, call centres among data plan balance, among others.
He also reminded the consumers of the availability of the NCC Toll-Free Number, 622, which consumers can use to make complaints to the Commission on any telecom service-related issues they may be having with their service providers.
He spoke on the 112 Emergency Number to seek succour during emergencies, as well as the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 Short Code to block unsolicited messages.
“Information and education are key to the empowerment of telecom consumers.
“The protection of the rights and interests of telecom consumers is one of the mandates of the Commission, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003.
“When telecom consumers are duly informed and educated, they are protected against the unfair practices by the service providers,” Umar said.
Speaking further, Umar said everything in the current digital world revolves around telecommunications services.
He added that educating consumers plays an important role in informing them, clarifying issues, and empowering them through information and enlightenment.
“So, it is a great decision which will sensitise the people about their rights, their privileges and the expectations they have about the telecom businesses in the country,” he added.
