The Interview Editors
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday said that the commission places greater priority on consumers because of their importance in the telecommunications industry.
Dr. Umar Danbatta, its Executive Vice Chairman, made this known at the ‘NCC Day’ at the ongoing 35th Lagos International Trade in Lagos.
Danbatta, who was represented by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Head, Public Affairs, NCC, said that the commission was laying emphasis on the protection of consumers because without them operators and regulators would be out of business.
According to him, the commission is committed to protecting and empowering consumers, whether individuals or corporate consumers, from unfair practices.
“NCC is the agency driving the digital transformation we are seeing in our economy today.
“One area that the Commission pays greater priority to is how our consumers – Yes, you as telecoms consumers – are treated by the service providers.
“This is why at NCC we continue to treat consumers as Kings and Queens; of course, that is who they are, because without the consumer both regulator and the operators have no business.”
According to him, this is based on regulatory mandate of ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services deserve to get value for their money and to be treated as a very important stakeholder in the scheme of things.
The EVC said that consequently, in line with NCC consumer-centric initiatives, the NCC recently unveiled a new Strategic Vision Plan (SVP).
Danbatta said that it articulated the Commission’s policies and regulatory implementation roadmaps for five years, covering 2020-2025.
He said that the new roadmap, a 5-Point Agenda, had the overarching objective of increasing connectivity and service experience for the consumers.
He said it was just like the first Strategic Vision Plan for 2015-2020 paid special attention to the issue of empowerment and protection of the consumer.
The EVC highlighted the five consumer-centric items of the new SVP 2021-2025 as Organisational Renewal for Operational Efficiency and Regulatory Excellence.
He said that items included: facilitating the Provision of Infrastructure for a Digital Economy to foster national development; promoting fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment and innovative services.
Danbatta said that others included improving Quality of Service (QoS) for enhanced consumer Quality of Experience (QoE); and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnership.
According to him, the SVP will generally focus on excellence and efficiency of our regulatory activities and ensure increased connectivity to telecoms consumers.
He said that it would be through deployment of robust infrastructure and newest technology, such as 5G network, recently approved for rollout by the Federal Government.
He said that the Commission was set for implementation aimed at ensuring robust, available, accessible and affordable broadband/telecom service delivery to consumers.
He said that it would also provide a level-playing ground for operators to thrive, promote investment and delivery of innovative services to consumers, and ensure enhanced consumer quality of experience.
Danbatta said that NCC also has the strategic collaboration and partnering, which also occupied a very strategic pillar of the NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2021-2024.
The EVC said it was the Commission’s expectation that the totality of outcomes from diligent implementation of all the five items, as contained in the new Strategic Vision Plan, would enhance consumer experience and satisfaction.
Smart phones and airtime were given to customers through a raffle draw and fastest fingers as appreciation to customers.
(NAN)
