World Consumer Rights Day: NCC Identifies Consumers as Major Drivers of its Activities

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), views the telecommunication consumers as kings because they provide the major drive and essence of the activities, according to Mr. Clem Omife, the deputy director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC.

Omife was speaking during a programme organized by NCC to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day, which is observed and celebrated on every 15th of March.

This day is set aside to highlight the rights of consumers and protect them from exploitation, discrimination, and other forms of unfair practices.

“Certainly, we cannot over-emphasis the importance the consumers”, the Deputy Director said.

Quoting Adams Smith, the author of the book wealth of Nations, Omife stated that “Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production (and Services) and the interest of the producer/service provider ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the Consumer”.

“John Wanamaker, the one-time American Postmaster General and Advertising Expert further amplified the importance of the Consumer in his famous phrase ‘Customer is King’.

“At the NCC, Telecom consumers are Kings because they provide the major drive and essence of our activities”.

He added that the Commission recognizes the important position the consumers occupy in the telecommunications ecosystem, and therefore will continue develop and promote consumer centric initiatives aimed at ensuring that the rights of consumers are protected.

“Consumer Education also form a major tool for promoting consumer rights and therefore the Commission continues to engage with consumers and consumer issues using it various outreach programmes such the Telecom Consumer Parliament, Telecom Consumer Conversations: Market Conversation, Village Square Dialogue, Campus Conversation, NYSC Camp Sensitization Town Hall on Radio. We have also published the Telecom Consumer Handbook and transcribed into Braille for the Visually impaired.

“Also, the Commission- is in the final process of deploying the Automated Consumer Complaints Management system, which will further expand the complaints channels and improve complaints resolutions even at First level with Service Providers

“The Consumers will continue to occupy a special position in the Commission’s activities because we recognize that without the Consumers, there will be no telecommunication industry”, he said.