Consumers lament poor services by service providers, want NCC to place sanctions

TELECOMMUNICATION consumers in Nasarawa State have expressed dissatisfaction with the services of telecommunication providers in the state, calling on the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to enforce sanctions.

The consumers made their positions known on Thursday, in Keffi Local Government Area of the state during the 25th edition of consumer town hall meeting organised by NCC tagged “Information and Education as a catalyst for Consumer Protection.”

Speaking during the town hall meeting, a consumer, Joshua Musa, decried the unnecessary sending of messages by MTN, despite all efforts to deactive the message.

He also lamented the unnecessary charges being levied on him by the same service operator in the face of current economic realities.

Another consumer, Deborah Chiyelugo decried that “one MTN product, tanko, with number 98631 has been bothering her with unsolicited messages.

She also lamented the unavailability of the service provider’s offices in major cities across the country and the reproduction of already used lines which affects the privacy of the new user.

Another consumer, Glory Peter, raised alarm over Etisalat’s calling of consumers with numbers meant to be for consumers which makes her dissatisfied after answering such calls.

Speaking earlier, the Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, of NCC, Abdullahi Maikano, disclosed that the event was designed to bring consumers, regulators and network operators together to proffer solutions to consumer related issues.

He explained that the consumers are the target beneficiaries of all activities of the commission, hence, the need to ensure that they get good quality of service for their money spent.

Maikano added that, consumers’ education is one of the most effective mechanisms that provides and guarantees consumer protection.

He disclosed that, it is in view of the commission’s resolve to protect consumers that it came up with some initiatives which includes; organizing outreach programmes, dissemination of consumers education via factsheet, responding to enquiries via NCC call centre on a toll free number 622 among others.