NCC will ensure transparency around tariffs, billing system—Maida

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured telecom service consumers that it will ensure transparency around tariffs and billings to ensure that consumers are billed properly.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC gave the assurance at a maiden breakfast meeting with editors on Monday in Abuja.

Maida, who said that telecommunication services in the country were not where they ought to be yet, said the commission is working towards improved services to telecom consumers.

“The problematic mobile access situation in the country has forced consumers to adopt digital habits that make them pay more.”

Mr Maida also said he would work closely with telecom companies in carrying out his vision for the industry to enhance communication services nationwide.

He said he would also make the industry more resilient, push it into the maturity phase and strengthen the way it does business.

According to him, cross-industry collaboration will enable the telecom industry to thrive.

The executive vice chairman also spoke on the use of telephone lines by bandits to force families of abducted victims to pay ransom.

He said “we are aware of these and efforts are being made to secure the industry.

“We are also taking measures to stop the use of illegal SIM cards.”

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Maida said that the NCC and security agencies have achieved a lot in tracking such criminals and taking measures to reduce the use of illegal and unregistered SIM cards for criminal activities.

He said that by the end of February, all SIM cards not connected with the National Identity Number (NIN) would be deactivated, both for calls and use on other platforms.

In addition to that, he said, NCC had identified some of those engaged in the sale of illegal SIM cards, “and measures are being taken to sanction them appropriately.”

He emphasized that his ultimate target was to make the telecom services secure, by ensuring absolute data privacy and security.

He also responded to concerns raised over spectrum allocation, saying that the NCC was only concerned about telecom spectrum.

He added that the spectrum is allocated based on the recommendation of the National Spectrum Council, which has representatives of all key stakeholders.

Maida appealed to the media to be fair to the NCC, report objectively and draw the commission’s attention when it seemed to have derailed.