I am delighted to welcome you all to the 77th edition of the Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) with the theme, “Hearing the Voice of Consumers”.
It gives me great pleasure to be anchoring my first Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) since my assumption of office as the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
As you are well aware, the Telecoms Consumer Parliament is one of the initiatives of the NCC that brings together industry stakeholders to discuss and address key issues affecting Consumers and suggest possible means of resolving them and ensuring that they ultimately obtain a good service experience. The effectiveness of the TCP in achieving this set goal over the years is attested to by its adoption by other players in other sectors of the economy.
As the EVC/CEO of the NCC, I work tirelessly to put in place various strategies and policies that will enable the Commission actualize its vision of becoming a responsive, world-class communications regulatory organisation that, above all, protects and empowers the Consumer.
On assumption of duties at the NCC, I unveiled my strategic vision for years 2015 – 2020 in an 8-point agenda designed to promote innovation, investment, competition and Consumer empowerment.
These 8-point pillars rest on a tripod of “As”, which include Availability of Service, Accessibility of Service and Affordability of service. As can be deduced, the agenda is solely directed at ensuring that the Consumer is optimally satisfied with the services being provided. Three of the eight points are specifically focused on the Consumer, viz,
to improve quality of service (QoS) by promoting the availability of reliable, interoperable, rapidly restorable critical information and communications technology infrastructure that are supportive of all required services;
to facilitate strategic collaboration and partnership with relevant stakeholders that will foster ICT for sustainable economic development and social advancement;
to protect and empower Consumers from unfair practices through availability of information and education required to make informed choices in the use of ICT services.
The remaining agenda items, viz, (4) Facilitate broadband penetration, (5) Optimize usage and benefits of spectrum, (6) Promote ICT innovation and investment opportunities, (7) Promote fair competition and inclusive growth and (8) Ensure regulatory excellence and operational efficiency, are all designed for the ultimate benefit of the Consumer.
As you are probably aware by now, the Commission responded to the cries of consumers by recently issuing Direction to all Mobile Network Operators mandating them to dedicate a short code, 2442, on their networks for use by subscribers to opt-in to “Do-Not-Disturb” database to register their numbers against unsolicited messages. The effective date for compliance is 30th June, 2016. There are sanctions for non-compliance to this Direction.
Given the importance we attach to meeting the needs of telecoms Consumers, the Commission has put in place several other measures that will ensure that Service Providers meet those needs. Some of these measures had been elaborated upon by the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, in his welcome address.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, at this point, it is my pleasure to declare the Parliament open and wish you fruitful deliberations on the way forward towards improving the quality of Consumers’ experience.
I thank you for honouring our invitation to today’s event and for listening.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, FNSE Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, NCC
Comments