Reps propose bill to stop unsolicited SMS by telecom operators

• Lawmaker urges thorough probe of allegations against SGF

The House of Representatives is planning amendments to the constitution that will protect subscribers from receiving unsolicited text messages and other alleged “unknown deductions” by telecoms operators.

The Chairman of House Committee on Telecommunications, Saheed Akinade- Fijabi made this known while featuring at the South-West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP), media chat yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Akinade-Fijabi, who disclosed that the NCC amendment Act has passed through the second reading, said: “there are a lot of amendments in the NCC Act but the major one is on the unsolicited messages.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said the amendment of the Act “will serve as a legal back up needed to sanction any erring companies.” According to him, the major amendment on the NCC Act is that of the unsolicited messages, after it has been passed and the president gives his assent, it will serve as sanction to any defaulter.

Another member of House of Representatives, Mohammed Sani Abdu, APC, Bauchi yesterday said until the conclusion of findings into allegations against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal of contract breach on N12 billion for internally displaced persons (IDPs), the embattled SGF cannot be charged as guilty.

Reacting to the SGF’s suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari, Abdu, who is from the north east, said the president has only shown responsiveness in asking the SGF to step aside following the allegations, but would be returned to office if exonerated from the charges levelled against him in the administration of Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE).