Poor service delivery: NCC threatens mobile network operators

EXECUTIVE Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Engr Umar Dambatta, on Monday threatened to blacklist any Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) that are found culpable of various infractions including protracted call-drops and poor service delivery.

This came just as the NCC boss expressed displeasure over the spate of job losses in the communication sector, which had led to sack of thousands of Nigerians in the recent time.

Engr Dambatta who issued the threat Monday in Abuja during an investigative public hearing by the House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee investigating operational activities of telecommunications equipment and service companies and vendors in Nigeria.

According to him, the commission resorted to sanction as part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers and empower Nigerians to take informed decision on the choice of effective MNOs to patronise.

He explained that measures have also been put in place to check the challenge of unsolicited messages which contribute to low quality of service, as aggrieved consumers report such default through dedicated toll free Number 622.

Dambatta however pointed out that some of the operators blamed the default on certain factors including: erratic power supply, paucity of foreign exchange for importation of telecom equipment, vandalisation of infrastructure and other infrastructure and non-access to right of way to deploy the required telecoms infrastructure.

The NCC boss also solicited for support of the National Assembly towards ensuring speedy consideration and passage of bill, which seeks to criminalise the vandalisation of telecoms infrastructure across the country.

On the spate of job losses in the sector in the recent time, Engr Dambatta regretted the trend, but pointed out that the Commission was not involved in handling of labour related matter, as it was under the purview of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

In his ruling, the chairman of the committee, Hon Ahmed Abu, directed the NCC management team to provide relevant documents relating to the “parameters and basis for determining and approving transfer of funds outside the shores of Nigeria particularly those that bring in capital and investment from outside the shores of Nigeria.”