NCC mulls 14-day data roll-over for telecoms subscribers

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is to direct service providers to give a 14-day window to subscribers to enable them roll over unused data. It said the move would outlaw the current regime where customers lose valid data at the expiration of subscription.

The commission’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta, dropped the hint yesterday during the ‘NCC Day’ at the Port Harcourt International Trade Fair in Rivers State.

He noted that the issue of 30-day data expiration had been of great concern to consumers.

Represented by Head, Department of Projects, Bashir Idris, the NCC boss said the commission had put service providers on notice.

His words: “On the issue of data roll-over, the Commission will soon issue a direction to the service providers to give 14 days window to the subscribers to enable them roll over their unused data, even if they do not renew on the expiration date. In other words, this will stop the current practice where subscribers lose the entire unused data if they fail to renew on the date of the expiration of the current subscription.”

Danbatta said NCC had also embarked on sensitisation programmes to educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities.

He continued: “We, as independent telecom regulator in Nigeria, recognise that telecommunications services are very important to our nation, and more importantly, the consumers of telecommunications services deserve to get value for their money and be treated as very important stakeholder in the scheme of things as far as service delivery is concerned.

“The main thrust of our participation at the fair this year is to promote a major campaign, dedicated to the welfare of the consumer, which the commission launched this year.

“On March 15, 2017, the commission initiated a major consumer centric initiative tagged, 2017: Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer.

“The objective of NCC’s 2017 YNTC is to engage, empower, educate and inform the consumer about his rights, responsibilities, opportunities and solutions that are available in the industry. The essence of this declaration is to reassure the consumers that the issue of protecting them from unfair practices is not a mere talk. It is call to action.”