By Frank Momoh
In a bid to deepen its consumer outreach initiative across every segment of the society, The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Thursday rolled out its campus sensitization, interactive and educative programme to the Nigerian students, this time berthing at the University of Abuja.
The uniquely novel initiative according to NCC was geared towards creating awareness for campus students on their rights and obligations as consumers of telecommunication services telecom consumers in the country.
The Commission’s Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Efosa Idehen, while speaking at the occasion, stressed the importance attached to the enlightenment initiative of NCC, said: “The Commission has several platforms for carrying out its consumer education to ensure that consumers are fully informed and adopt the use of various mediums to pass the message across to consumers.”
Idehen, added that Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and other social platforms exist for user of telecommunications services through which their complaints can be made known. He added that NCC has never failed in its responsibility to quickly address such issue or challenge, pointing that NCC is a customer-centric organization.
He implored the students to use the NCC consumer complaint toll-free number 622, the emergency toll-free number of 112, and the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) short code 2442, which does not attract any charges.
In her remark, the Deputy Director, in the department, Ms. Hafsat Lawal, said the conversation was designed for students at the tertiary institutions to acquaint them with their rights, privileges, adding NCC as a regulator monitors the operations and activities of telecommunications operators to compel them render services of international standards under a conducive environment.
Lawal, said the campus conversation will no doubt address grey areas on consumer complaints and therefore students will become aware, educated on their rights and expectation of the operators in the industry.
While urging the students to carry the message beyond the four walls of the University, she stressed that it is the hope of NCC that this awareness creation should be propagated while amplifying the voice of the Commission by informing telecom consumers of their rights and obligations.
Lawal, said: “Our presentations today will educate you on all you need to know about the role NCC is playing in telecom Consumer protection as well as other consumer-centric initiatives and activities designed for the benefit of consumers.”
The Vice Chancellor, of the University, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, who was represented by Mr. Evans Ashigwu, expressed appreciation to NCC on behalf of management and students of the University for conversation which has added value and broadened their understanding of their rights and privileges as consumer of telcos services.
