The National Association of Telecom Subscribers (NATCOMS) wants the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to enforce a recent call by Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications for telcos to allow their subscribers roll-over unused data bundles.
The Minister recently flayed the common practice among telcos where they disallow data subscribers from rolling over unused bundle into a new month.
”We salute the Honourable Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu for taking a long overdue step by ordering the Telecommunications Companies, the Internet Service Providers and all other companies offering ICT Products and Services to be rolling over the subscribed and unused Data /Internet services post expiration”, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, President of NATCOMS said in a statement sent to Technology Times.
The consumer group’s call comes amid the Minister’s threat that the Federal Government would impose severe sanctions on telecoms service providers over poor quality of service, incessant dropped calls and unauthorized charges to consumers.
”In furtherance to the Honourable Minister’s orders, the Nigerian Communications Commission must ensure immediate compliance by all telcos, ISPs and other ICT Companies in order to put some smile on the face of subscribers”, NATCOM says.
Ogunbanjo, who describe the move by the Federal Government as ”consumer-centric” alleged that ”operators have been credit-depleting and riding on subscribers with the adoption of the Timed Guaranteed Income Policy, which denies consumer the Right to Satisfaction and the Right of Choice.”
According to him, in the wake of fixed wireless and GSM operation in Nigeria, some operators gave subscribers between three to seven days to make use of their credit or lose such credit left-over to the operator. The operators later moved this to to 15 days.
“Today credits loaded directly can now be made use of up to 90 days. However promo-generated credits still have very short expiry dates. The Nigerian Communications Commission must start the enforcement now”, NATCOM says.
Home