Consistent with the spirit of the key drivers of the declaration of 2017 as the Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer, the train of the Consumer Conversation forum piloted by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) arrived Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State recently to engage a section of the telecom consumers in a special conversation.
It was the sixth in the series of the Conversation organised by the Port Harcourt Office.
Speaking in the stead of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Zonal Controller of Port Harcourt Office, Dr. Chidi Diugwu reiterated the motive behind the institutionalisation of the Conversation which he noted was the need to emphasize the primacy of the consumer in the telecom industry, and the need to reinforce awareness of the rights of the consumer. Among these rights are the rights to be served well and freedom from disturbance of telemarketers through unsolicited messages.
In attendance were the representative of Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, HRM Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, and some of his chiefs as well as community leaders, men, women and young persons, including members of the National Youth Service Corps, and representatives of Mobile Network Operators who came to listen to and respond to consumer complaints.
Diugwu asked members of the public to take advantage of the shortcode 2442 to stop or manage unsolicited messages and to call the 622 toll free line to escalate complaints reported to service providers that have not been resolved satisfactorily.
The Zonal Controller also urged consumers to see telecoms infrastructures as national assets that must be protected through collective effort; and he equally advised consumers to go for type-approved telecoms equipment because of the implication on both Quality of Service and Quality of Experience.
Over 250 telecoms consumers present at the event seized the opportunity of the platform to make their grievances known to both the regulator and Service providers. At least 60 percent of the complains raised by the consumers were treated at the event while others were slated for follow-ups.
