NCC restates the supremacy of the Telecom consumer

THE Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), says it recognises the centrality of the consumer among several stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem and this explains the declaration of 2017 as Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, represented by Head NCC Zonal Operations, Helen Obi stated this recently at Wurukum, Makurdi, Benue State at the 3rd Edition of the Consumer Conversation organised by the North Central Zonal Operations of the Commission.
Obi who warmly received participants to the forum on behalf of the Board, Management and staff of Nigerian Communications Commission said the declaration of the Year of the Telecom Consumer is a derivative of the 8-point Agenda 2015-2020 of the current leadership of NCC at the heart of which is Consumer Protection through information, education and advocacy.
Obi also identified key components of the Declaration as the Activation of the “Do-Not-Disturb” (DND) Service across all telecom networks. This service enables the Consumer to stop receiving unwanted and unsolicited messages from Telecom Operators. She explained that a Consumer is expected to send “STOP” to 2442, if he/she intends to stop receiving all forms of text messages and send HELP to 2442 in order to choose from many thematic options to subscribe to.
The second aspects of the declaration is to encourage consumers to utilize the NCC Toll Free Line 622 to report complaints pertaining to unresolved issues with their Service Providers.
There is equally the campaign to educate cinsumers about Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) radiation because of the misinformation being bandied about with respect to telecom masts. Obi told participants that scientific research, including those conducted by WHO never established that exposure to radiation from telecom infrastructure is sufficient to cause harm to humans.
Obi therefore implored telecom consumers at the Conversation “to feel free to participate actively and ask relevant questions that will be beneficial to the Commission in its efforts to improve the quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria”.