For many years, subscribers have groaned and complained about the poor and ‘shady’ services of telecommunication providers, but nobody cared to listen. The service providers keep smiling to the banks while the government pretended as if all is well.
There are complaints of drop calls, unsolicited text messages, fraudulent tariffs/plans and unexplainable deductions among others.
“My most painful experience with them was when I loaded N1,000 to make very urgent calls when I lost my father. With just one call of about two minutes, I was told I had exhausted my call credit,” lamented Jimoh Aiyenugba, a subscriber who also said there was no one to help him, so he forgot about it.
The government organ in charge, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), was established to basically regulate, monitor and sanitise the telecommunications environment. In the face of what subscribers were going through, the commission’s disposition was that of ‘just bear it’.
Some weeks ago, when MTN was sanctioned for not blocking unregistered lines, it was a big surprise that NCC could take such a big step. While many were still speculating if they could actually bite, they amazed Nigerians again.
The commission started circulating its 622 toll free line for subscribers to lay their complaints. The questions is: how many people knew about this toll free line before President Muhammadu Buhari came into office?
Aiyenugba said: “Don’t mind the people at the commission. I am sure the line has always been there’ they just don’t want us to ‘put sand in their garri’ with the service providers.”
Well, it is not just about having people on the other side showing off their diction and English accent, but for the proper things to be done: sanitise to ensure quality and fair service.