The Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC
Management and Staff of NCC,
Telecom Service Providers,
Consumer Advocacy Groups,
Collaborating Agencies
The Media
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to welcome you
all to the 78th edition of Telecom Consumer Parliament taking
place in Lagos.
The Telecoms Consumer Parliament is a platform where
stakeholders are engaged in an interactive session. It provides a unique
opportunity for Consumers of telecom services to be informed and educated on
burning issues in the industry and to freely express their views and
expectations in the presence of the Service Providers and the Regulator.
In fulfilment of its mandate as prescribed by the
Nigerian Communication Act 2003, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
while taking cognizance of the challenges that came along with rapid growth of
the industry, has consistently strived to ensure that Nigerians have access to quality
telecommunications services at affordable prices.
The industry’s challenges over the years have been
that of provision of acceptable quality of service on a consistent basis.
The non-technical factors, which conspire to degrade
the quality of service are erratic power supply, vandalisation of telecom
infrastructure, multiple taxation and right of way issues as well as security
challenge at mobile base stations, among others.
Yet the question is what we are doing to
address some of these challenges:
1. Quality of Service:
Through the
Quality of Service Fixing Project, Industry stakeholders meet regularly to
review issues of quality of service and how to overcome them. In addition, to
the QoS Regulation, the Commission has also deployed the QoS Infrastructure
Tool to proactively manage QoS issues by using the Consumers Quality of
Experience as a baseline.
2. Multiple Taxation and Right of Way:
To resolve
these challenges, we have adopted a pragmatic approach, and one of the
platforms used by the Commission is the engagement of the Governors forum
through outreaches. Ogun State Governor, His Excellency, Ibikunle
Amosun recently ordered for the unsealing of 47 base stations
hitherto under lock and key before my visit to the state.
3. Vandalisation:
To curtail the
problem of vandalism, the Commission is tirelessly working to ensure the
passage of the critical infrastructure bill at the National Assembly so that
telecoms infrastructure will be declared as National assets.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the Commission
has remained resolute and committed to providing Regulatory interventions
that ensure Network Operators adhere to the conditions of their licences
and consumers get the best of quality of experience.
Consistent with the change agenda of Mr. President, we
are committed to the growth and total transformation of the industry.
In line with the Theme of this event, “Regulatory
Responses to Consumer issues over the last one year – A Retrospect”, I
wish to reiterate that since my assumption of office, a year ago, my priority
is to have a stabilized telecoms industry that will efficiently provide good
quality of service to Consumers.
Looking back at last one year, I can, with all
sense of modesty, state that all the Commission’s Actions, Policies and
Projects are aimed towards ensuring that consumers are not only fully
empowered but adequately protected. The objective is to ensure that they
derive value for money spent.
It is therefore, my hope that the
lead paper on the theme of this edition of Telecom Consumer Parliament will
provide further insight into what the journey has been in the Telecom industry
in the past one year. I enjoin you to make your usual valuable inputs and
contributions at the end of the paper.
On this note, ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare
this parliament open. I wish you fruitful deliberations.
Thank you and God bless.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, FNSE
Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, NCC
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