The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday said that it was committed to ensuring that consumers in the telecoms sector got value for their money and satisfaction.

 Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Vice Chairman of NCC made this pledge in Abuja while declaring open the 77th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) with the theme: ‘’Hearing the Voice of Consumers’’.

 Danbatta said that he was working tirelessly to put in place various strategies and policies that would enable the commission actualise its vision of becoming a responsive world class communications regulatory organisation.

 ``And above all it will protect and empower the consumers.

 ``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 of 2442 on their networks.

 ``This is for use by subscribers to opt into ``Do not Disturb’’ database to register their numbers against unsolicited messages and the effective date for compliance is June 30 and there are sanctions for non-compliance,’’ he said.

 Danbatta said that given the importance NCC attached to meeting telecom consumers needs, the commission had also put in place several other measures that would ensure that service providers met those needs.

 On his part, Mr Abdullahi Maikano, the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC said that the forum, an initiative of NCC was especially dedicated for consumers of telecom products and services.

 Maikano said that it was an occasion which telecom industry players met and exchanged ideas on salient issues affecting consumers of telecoms services in the country.

 ``It is interesting to note that fora such as the TCP have continued to shape the regulatory policies of the commission and have led to the enactment of several regulations that benefitted consumers and enriched the industry.

 ``The theme of today’s event is carefully chosen in order to feel the pulse of consumers regarding their perspectives on telecom service delivery today and their expectations from network operators as well as regulators,’’ he said.

 At the forum, papers were presented by representatives of Telecom Advocacy Group.
Mr Ene Baba-Owoh, the National Coordinator, Telsred, an NGO said that he carried out a survey in the southern part of the country from 600 respondent in six locations.

 He said that consumers expected service providers to adopt best practices.
Baba-Owoh said that providers should pay more attention to staff skills and knowledge to enable them meet consumers needs.
Mr Olawoyin Olusegun, the National Coordinator Initiative for the Support and Promotion of Consumer’s Right said that he carried out a survey in the northern part of the country.

 Olusegun said that the survey was to determine the needs of consumers, adding that they complained of unsolicited SMS, drop calls among others.
He urged network providers to find a way of addressing these challenges to give the best services to consumers.
The network providers at the forum, which include MTN, GLO, Etisalat, Airtel , NTEL and Spectrunet said their companies were doing their best for consumers to get the best services.

 Participants, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the forum was in the right direction.
Mrs Zanab Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer, Women Wing of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), said that the concept of the forum was good.
Mohammed said that forum like this gave confidence to consumers to know that somebody was watching out for them and ensuring that service providers do what they were supposed to do.

 Mrs Mary Uduma, the National Chairperson of Nigerian Internet Governance Forum said that the TCP was timely.
Uduma said that since NCC was already talking about unsolicited SMS and getting reconfirmation from the network operator ``is a good thing for the consumers’’.

 The  Management of NCC, Telecom Service Providers, consumer advocacy groups, collaborating agencies, the media and other telecom consumers attended the forum.