Consumer protection: NCC, CPC launch investigation into telecom sector

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) yesterday launched a joint regulatory investigation in the telecommunications sector with the aim of protecting the rights of consumers.
A joint statement announcing the inauguration of the joint regulatory inquiry said this was an important step to ensure the rights of consumers in the telecommunication industry were respected and protected.
The statement said regulatory inquiry would equally ensure the telecommunication industry remained robust and continues its leading role in the country’s economic growth.
“Indeed, the telecommunications industry has become one of the most vital to our economy, and in particular inclusiveness for a large and vast nation such as ours.
“As such, it is a matter of utmost importance and urgency that we pay the appropriate attention to growing the industry and protecting consumers.
These two crucial objectives are not mutually exclusive,” the joint statement noted.
Acknowledging the roles by regulatory authorities and operators in the industry, the statement said both have a unified mutual objective to ensure consumers get service they are happy with.
The director general of CPC, Babatunde Irukera, said in the spirit of the mutual objective, the two agencies see the joint regulatory inquiry into consumer issues in the telecom industry as the right thing to do.
Irukera said the inquiry would promote regulatory collaboration and all round protection, ensure regulatory clarity, and eliminate possible multiple regulatory approaches to similar issues.
He said the exercise was good for the industry and operators, as investors always appreciate such clarity and stability.
This, he noted, was consistent and complementary to the federal government’s commitment to Ease of Doing Business and the Economic Recovery and growth Plan, which prioritizes people.

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