The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it was working to implement the federal government’s directive to do a downward review of the cost of data in the country.
Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, media aide to the minister of communications and digital technology, Dr. Isa Pantami disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.
She said the executive vice chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta had written to the minister intimating him about the strategies being taken to stem the tide of short changing subscribers by Mobile Network Operators.
The letter reads in part: “The letter stated that, in response to the directive of the minister, the commission reviewed the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 on its rule-making powers and process.
“The Commission is in the process of carrying out a study on the End-of-Session Notification for Data Services and depending on the outcome, may issue a direction in accordance with the Act.
“Furthermore, in a bid to protect consumers, the NCC also notified the minister of their regulation of the initial directive to include refunds to the consumer in established cases of unauthorised subscription.”
According to the statement, the commission in its earlier attempts to tackle the challenges informed the minister that it had issued a directive to all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on the attendant penalties associated with Automatic Renewal and Forceful Subscription to Data and Value Added Services.
The penalties include considerable financial sanctions on the erring operator.
She also said the NCC had notified Pantami of its regulation of the initial directive to include refunds to the consumer in established cases of unauthorised subscription.
The commission assured the minister that “it has been working assiduously round the clock to enforce the federal government’s directives.
“It appealed for an extension of the deadline which expires on November 8, to enable it properly re-strategise and fully implement long term solutions as directed, to the challenges,” it said.
Suleiman stated that the minister had graciously granted an extension with the understanding that the Commission will resolve the issues within the shortest time possible.
She said the minister had assured the general public that the federal government would neither tolerate acts of injustice nor the shortchanging of its citizens.
“This administration is working tirelessly to ensure that subscribers get full value for their money,” she added.
