NCC Gives New Order To MTN, Glo, Others On Data Renewal

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has ordered all service providers in Nigeria to stop any automatic or unwarranted renewal of data packages without the full consent of the subscribers or incur a fine of N5 million in the case of violation.

NCC stated that the move was necessary in spite of the numerous complaints received from Nigerian consumers, which is a breach of the extant rules on the part of network providers.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission made this known on Thursday during the first episode of NCC Consumer Conversation 2018, held in Karu, Nasarawa State.

Dantata, who was represented at the occasion by the Director of Northern operations, Mrs. Helen Obi, was quoted thus:

‘‘The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on the 21 May, 2018 issued a directive to all network providers to desist from carrying out automatic or unwarranted renewal of data packages without their consent. We have also directed that no mobile service providers should impose their services to consumers. It is expected that they should obtain their consent.

‘‘There should be a written text by the network provider to the consumer requesting to know whether the consumer is interested in renewing the package, after that, the network provider must also repeat the process to ensure that the consumer understood the terms and conditions of the service and has given consent before automatic renewal.

“In a situation where the commission receives complaints from the consumer that he or she was short-changed, the Commission will take it up on behalf of the consumer because that will be a violation of directive.

‘‘The penalty for the violation will attract a N5 million for any service provider who defaults. And for everyday that the commission issues the sanction and the fine was not paid by the service provider, it will attract and additional 500, 000 (five hundred thousand.)’’